UCL Centre for Sustainability and Realtech Innovation (CSRI) powered by PGIM Real Estate
Bringing together academia and industry to create impactful, sustainable solutions in real assets, powered by PGIM Real Estate.
About the CSRI
The Centre for Sustainability and RealTech Innovation (CSRI), in collaboration with PGIM Real Estate, is shaping the future of sustainable real estate and technology. By uniting startups, SMEs, academics, and industry leaders, the CSRI provides a platform to tackle pressing challenges in sustainability and Real Estate Technology (RealTech), driving impactful change across the sector.
Our mission is to foster meaningful collaborations through thought leadership events, hackathons, and workshops that encourage knowledge sharing, innovative problem-solving, and real-world applications. These activities form part of a broader effort to scout and develop ventures for PGIM’s incubation pipeline, while also nurturing a vibrant, inclusive community of innovators and entrepreneurs.
Launched in May 2025, the flagship accelerator program, Real Futures: Catalyst Converge, is designed to support experienced entrepreneurs ready to scale their ventures in sustainability and RealTech. With tailored resources, expert mentorship, and opportunities for investment readiness and pilot programs, this accelerator empowers participants to commercialise their solutions and achieve measurable impact.
The Centre works closely with the UCL Centre for Digital Innovation (CDI), and UCL faculties such as The Bartlett, UCL Estates, and initiatives, including The Hatchery and UCL Business (UCLB), ensuring access to cutting-edge research, diverse expertise, and robust entrepreneurial ecosystems. These partnerships create a sector-specific innovation hub where academic insights and practical innovation converge to drive progress toward a more sustainable future.
Join the CSRI Community and Ecosystem
Our Activities and Programmes
- Thought Leadership Events: Engaging debates, panels, and roundtables addressing key challenges such as decarbonisation, AI applications in real estate, and sustainable construction.
- Hackathons: High-energy problem-solving sessions that bring together interdisciplinary teams to create innovative solutions to real-world challenges.
- Workshops: Skill-building sessions focused on AI/ML applications, green financing, and scaling operations for startups and SMEs.
- The Bartlett Invents!: A competition and showcase for innovative ideas in architecture, urban planning, and sustainability.
- Real Futures: Catalyst Converge: Gain access to funding and investor networks, plus bespoke mentorship from industry leaders.
- Four fully funded MSc scholarships: PGIM Real Estate is committed to diversifying the talent pipeline through philanthropic support for scholarships, research, and inclusive innovation.
Through these activities, the CSRI is committed to delivering measurable outcomes that align with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and PGIM Real Estate’s strategic objectives.
Together, the CSRI and its partners are transforming how the industry approaches sustainability, technology, and innovation, contributing to a greener and more efficient built environment.
Our People
Shakirah Akinwale
Centre Director, UCL Centre for Sustainability and RealTech Innovation
Funding and Partnerships
Powered by the breadth and depth of PGIM Real Estate's 53 years of property data and research, RealAssetX engages leading universities and technology companies globally. They aim to conduct research in the areas of sustainability, artificial intelligence, and deep tech. RealAssetX will also establish early-stage innovation programs to develop third-party technologies that will support the advancement of operational efficiencies and global decarbonisation goals.
By partnering with leading universities and technology companies, RealAssetX is building an ecosystem to develop new technologies that don't exist today — leveraging forward-thinking research and development to drive transformation within the real asset industry.
Raimondo Amabile
Co-CEO & Chief Investment Officer, PGIM Real Estate
Related Programmes
- Artificial Intelligence and Data Engineering MSc
- Data Science and Machine Learning MSc
- Computational Finance MSc
Work With Us
The CSRI is committed to building a vibrant, inclusive community of innovators, researchers, and industry leaders passionate about driving sustainability and technological innovation in real estate. There are a variety of ways to collaborate and engage with us:
Opportunities for Collaboration
- Academics and Researchers: Partner with us to translate cutting-edge research into impactful solutions. Whether you're exploring sustainability, RealTech, or AI/ML applications, we welcome interdisciplinary collaboration.
- Startups and SMEs: Join our accelerator program or participate in our hackathons and workshops to develop, scale, and commercialize your innovative ideas.
- Industry Partners: Work with us on sponsored projects, provide mentorship, or contribute to our thought leadership events and challenges.
- Students: Take part in summer projects, hackathons, and internships that offer hands-on experience and industry exposure.
PhD Studentships
For those interested in pursuing PhD or Postdoc opportunities within CSRI’s core focus areas, please email thecsri@ucl.ac.uk for up-to-date information on relevant studentships and funding options.
How to Get Involved
- Attend our thought leadership events, workshops, and hackathons.
- Propose collaborative research or innovation projects aligned with our mission.
- Apply for our flagship accelerator program, launching in May 2025.
By joining the CSRI, you’ll gain access to a dynamic network of innovators, world-class expertise, and resources to help drive impactful change in sustainability and RealTech.
Find Us
Find us at IDEALondon, 69 Wilson St, London EC2A 2BBGoogle map link
