2030 Strategy
The ICE's five-year vision for the home of infrastructure.
Download the strategy
Since our foundation in 1818, the ICE’s members have delivered infrastructure for society across the world.
Who we are
The Institution of Civil Engineers is more than a professional institution.
We are the home of infrastructure.
Having received our Royal Charter in 1828, we are an established charity whose object is to foster and promote the art and science of civil engineering.
We are proud of our 95,000-strong global membership, our more than 200 years of history, and our enduring commitment to delivering sustainable and high-quality infrastructure.
We champion engineering professionals who design, build and maintain the infrastructure that we all rely on.
What we do
As an institution, we support members, the civil and infrastructure profession and the built environment sector.
- We inspire people from all walks of life to become professionally qualified.
- We make sure that our members meet the highest standards needed to address the challenges of today and tomorrow.
- As a qualifying body, we provide confidence to employers, clients and the public that they can trust professionally qualified engineers and technicians to act safely, ethically and sustainably.
- We provide learning opportunities so that engineering professionals maintain their skills and can innovate throughout their careers.
- We speak on behalf of the profession, to the public, with industry, and with policymakers, so they have trusted engineering advice.
- We celebrate the very best of our industry: the best people, teams, projects and research that deliver a world where infrastructure enables people and the planet to thrive.
Our vision and impact
Our vision is for a world where infrastructure enables people and planet to thrive.
We want our members to be bound by the shared values of integrity, competence, collaboration and innovation.
As a growing, innovative and diverse institution, we are also a trusted and impartial source of expertise.
Our ability to engage and empower our global networks helps to further our influence.
The ICE’s vision is to deliver by 2030 infrastructure that is:
- Trusted – Delivering safe, functional and inclusive infrastructure
- Sustainable - Carbon management, nature-positive solutions and climate resilience are embedded in infrastructure projects around the world.
- Intelligent – Engineers use technology intelligently and ethically
Why we do it
There are many challenges facing the sector and society: geopolitical and economic instability, a worsening climate, changing societal demands, and a competing demand for skills.
The ICE, our members and the profession have a major role to play in addressing these.
The world needs better, sustainable infrastructure
There is a large and growing gap between the infrastructure the world needs and the infrastructure systems that exist.
A long-term vision, innovation, investment and action are needed to close this gap.
There is a shortage of skills and an insufficient pipeline of professionals to design, develop, maintain and improve the infrastructure we need.
Society needs to have trust in infrastructure professionals
Infrastructure failures such as the Grenfell Tower tragedy, the Baltimore Bridge collapse and the Toddbrook Reservoir collapse highlight the critical importance of safety as the foremost responsibility for infrastructure professionals.
Climate and nature emergency
Climate change is demolishing fixed assumptions about the weather and infrastructure will have to adapt.
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the UN in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty and protect the planet.
However, with the UN reporting in 2024 that the world is on track to achieve only 17% of the SDG targets, urgent action continues to be required.
Action that our members are also calling for.
The sixth industrial revolution
Automation, BIM, digital twins and AI are streamlining design and construction processes, while the Internet of Things and other technologies are transforming how we monitor the condition and safety of existing infrastructure.
Complex, interoperable systems require a major shift in infrastructure engineering skills and a strong stance on the ethical use of technology.
They also need deep and positive collaboration and co-ordination with related disciplines.
The ICE's 2024/25 President, Prof Jim Hall explored how we can develop an infrastructure strategy for a sustainable future at his inaugural Presidential Address.
State of the Nation
The State of the Nation reports are compiled with the help of expert input drawn internally from the ICE’s membership and externally from professionals working across the infrastructure sector.
Do you have any questions?
If you would like to find out more about our work, please contact us:
