Construction industry giant Ray O'Rourke will give the keynote address at the launch of the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre, a new body which aims to raise standards and knowledge exchange in the Scottish building industry.
The centre, in Glasgow, is set to be formally opened on Tuesday by Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Local Government and Planning Minister Derek Mackay MSP.
Irishman Ray O'Rourke's firm, Laing O'Rourke, is the name behind sseveral major construction projects worldwide, including the London 2012 Olympic Park, part of Canary Wharf, Port Botany Terminal near Sydney, Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and part of the Hong Kong metro system.
O'Rourke said: "The fact that the Innovation Centre is working in partnership with 11 Scottish universities will make a significant contribution to delivering transformational change in the construction industry in Scotland - a vision that resonates with Laing O'Rourke's vision to challenge and change the construction industry worldwide.
"I have no doubt that developments here will impact on the rest of the UK and far beyond as this research and development starts to come to fruition."
Other speakers at the event include Colin Sinclair, director of procurement, commissioning and facilities at NHS Scotland, John McGurk from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Scotland and Professor Sean Smith, director of Napier University's institute for sustainable construction.
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