Granite has joined Plug and Play’s Real Estate & Construction program in Silicon Valley, creating a new channel for the infrastructure contractor to evaluate emerging technologies and collaborate with startups.
The partnership will connect Granite with technology companies, entrepreneurs and industry leaders working on solutions for the built environment. The initiative is intended to identify technologies that could improve how infrastructure is planned, delivered and maintained.
Through Plug and Play’s global innovation platform, Granite will have access to a network of startups and technology providers focused on construction and real estate.
The collaboration will allow Granite teams to engage with emerging technologies and assess potential applications for infrastructure projects. Areas of interest include solutions that can improve project delivery, operational performance and long-term value for customers and communities.
Granite Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer Malcolm Jack said the partnership will provide an opportunity to connect with emerging technologies and examine alternatives to conventional approaches.
The collaboration also gives technology developers an opportunity to work with an established infrastructure contractor and explore how innovations can transition from development environments into active construction operations.
Granite provides civil construction and construction materials services across transportation, water, specialty and federal markets, among others. The company has increasingly positioned technology and innovation as tools for improving project execution and operational performance.
Plug and Play operates an innovation platform connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities and government agencies. Its Real Estate & Construction program focuses on technologies addressing challenges across the built environment.
The partnership comes as construction organizations continue to evaluate digital and emerging technologies that can address complex project requirements, improve information flow and support field operations.
Infrastructure projects involve complex planning, construction and maintenance requirements, creating opportunities for technology providers to address challenges across the project lifecycle.
For Granite, participation in a startup-focused innovation ecosystem provides a structured way to identify technologies with potential construction applications. The collaboration could also give emerging technology companies greater exposure to real-world infrastructure needs and jobsite conditions.
Source: Granite Construction.
