Innovation in action: unlocking data and digitalisation for smarter buildings in Europe’s built environment
As Europe’s built environment becomes increasingly digital, secure data sharing, interchangable platforms and intelligent systems are becoming essential to improve building performance, enable smarter decision-making and accelerate the clean energy transition.
From data space connectivity to integrated renovation platforms and service-level energy optimisation, digital innovation is reshaping how buildings, systems and users interact across the energy and information and communication technology (ICT) landscape.
Through its engagement with European Union (EU)-funded projects, STAR*track is identifying and showcasing innovations that are being developed, tested and deployed across Europe.
This article brings together a growing portfolio of data and digitalisation-focused solutions that address the challenge from different angles, from secure data exchange systems to user-driven sustainable digital infrastructure.
Please note: This page will be updated regularly as additional projects and innovations are added.
Featured data and digitalisation projects and innovations:
WeForming – Data Space Connector
Innovation type: Software
Innovation development status: under development (MVP 2.0)
A secure and interoperable data-sharing solution that:
- enables seamless and sovereign sharing of datasets and energy applications across intelligent grid-forming buildings (iGFBs)
- provides a modular connector with local data storage, data management and a user-friendly interface
- supports interoperability through alignment with European Common Energy Data Spaces
- introduces Connector-as-a-Service (CaaS), enabling buildings to connect to data spaces without complex hardware or software installations.
EBENTO – One-Stop-Shop Platform for Energy Performance Contracting and Renovation
Innovation type: Software / System
Innovation development status: Under development (TRL 7–8, public testing phase)
A collaborative digital renovation platform that:
- brings together renovation design, financing, contracting and performance monitoring within a single platform
- uses BIM-based simulations to compare technical and financial renovation scenarios
- includes digital Energy Performance Contracts (EnPC), smart contracts and digital logbooks to improve transparency and traceability
- helps reduce transaction costs while strengthening collaboration and citizen engagement throughout the renovation process.
EXIGENCE – Per-Service Energy Consumption in Sustainable 6G
Innovation type: System / Technology
Innovation development status: Under development (TRL 4 validated in lab and 5G testbed environments)
A service-layer energy optimisation approach that:
- measures and optimises energy consumption and carbon emissions at the service level rather than only the infrastructure level
- encourages users to adopt lower-carbon service options through dynamic incentive mechanisms
- connects ICT performance with carbon markets to support commercially viable, sustainability-driven operations
- contributes to international standardisation, helping accelerate the adoption of greener digital infrastructure.
Next steps
These innovations aim to demonstrate how secure data spaces, integrated digital platforms and service-level optimisation can transform how buildings and digital systems operate, supporting greater efficiency, transparency and sustainability across Europe’s built environment.
STAR*track will continue to engage with EU-funded projects and expand this overview, highlighting practical and emerging solutions as they are developed, tested and deployed across Europe.
