Help map R&I Gaps for the New European Bauhaus

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NEB Junction, the NEB Hub for Results and Impact, has launched a survey to identify Research & Innovation gaps, implementation barriers and future priorities for the R&I component of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility, as well as how it connects to the Roll-out component.

The primary purpose of this survey is to identify Research and Innovation gaps related to the R&I component of the NEB Facility, the funding instrument of the New European Bauhaus initiative. Furthermore, it aims to identify implementation barriers, future priorities for the NEB Facility and links between its R&I and Roll-out components.

The survey targets stakeholders involved in the New European Bauhaus Initiative, especially those from public administration and the construction sector. Other actors are encouraged to complete the survey as well. Your insights will contribute to recommendations for shaping the future NEB Facility.

The survey is especially keen to hear from the construction sector. Your input will directly feed into recommendations for shaping the future NEB Facility!

📝 Take the survey (~15-20 min): NEB Facility Survey

📅 The survey is open until 6 October
💡 Not familiar with the NEB Facility yet? Consult the NEB Facility factsheet first

Innovation in action: Products and services for the re-use of building components and materials

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How can Europe move from a linear construction model towards one where building materials and components remain in use for longer?

As the built environment faces growing pressure to reduce resource use, emissions and construction and demolition waste, circular approaches are creating new opportunities to reuse existing materials, design for future disassembly and make better-informed decisions about material use.

Through its engagement with EU-funded projects, STAR*track is identifying and showcasing innovations that are helping to put circular construction into practice across Europe.

This article brings together a selection of solutions addressing different parts of the circular value chain, from reclaimed materials and design-for-disassembly approaches to digital tools that assess building circularity.

Please note: This page will be updated regularly as additional projects and innovations are added.

Featured circular projects and innovations

Drastic – “Re:Textile”, circular construction facility with reclaimed-timber structure

Innovation type: Material

Innovation development status: In use

A circular construction approach that:

  • uses reclaimed structural timber, glulam (glued laminated timber), steel roof plates and insulation panels recovered from a decommissioned cryptomining warehouse
  • demonstrates how reclaimed materials can be safely reused in structural and building applications, reducing demand for virgin materials
  • reduces environmental impacts, with life cycle assessment (LCA) results showing reductions of 38–95% across categories such as climate change, acidification, and resource use compared with conventional construction using virgin materials
  • demonstrates the potential for cost-efficient, scalable circular construction, including an estimated 8.6-tonne reduction in CO₂e emissions

Drastic– DFAD™ circular building processes and C-Joint™ connectors

Innovation type: System

Innovation development status: Under development (TRL7)

A circular building system that:

  • Enables buildings and building components to be assembled and disassembled easily and quickly, supporting reuse across multiple lifecycles
  • Uses Design for Assembly and Disassembly (DFAD™) principles to create flexible, adaptable, reusable and scalable building structures
  • Uses C-Joint™ connectors to create disassemblable structural frames across a range of shapes, building typologies and applications
  • Supports faster construction and the development of local circular value chains by enabling components to be easily reused, reconfigured and repurposed

Sircular– CIAT – Circularity Index Assessment Tool for Buildings

Innovation type: Software / System / Technology (Digital Decision Support System for Circular Construction)

Innovation development status: Under development / Demonstration phase (Horizon Europe Innovation Action). The tool is being validated in real demonstration buildings within the SIRCULAR project (TRL expected: 6–7 by end of project – system demonstrated in relevant environment).

A digital decision-support tool that:

  • uses Building Information Modelling (BIM) to assess the circularity and recyclability of buildings across their life cycle
  • assesses factors including disassembly, material separation and end-of-life recycling
  • integrates LCA and Life Cycle Costing (LCC) to support more informed design and investment decisions
  • provides both advanced BIM-based and simplified versions, supporting use by technical and non-technical stakeholders

Next steps

These innovations demonstrate how circular value chains can be strengthened across different stages of the built environment lifecycle — from recovering and reusing existing materials, to designing buildings for future disassembly, and developing digital tools to measure and support circularity.

STAR*track will continue to engage with EU-funded projects and expand this overview, highlighting practical solutions and real-world applications that can help keep building materials and components in use for longer and support the transition towards a more circular built environment across Europe.

Innovation in action: unlocking data and digitalisation for smarter buildings in Europe’s built environment

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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.

Learn more about WeForming.

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.

Learn more about EBENTO.

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.

Learn more about EXIGENCE.

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.

How can STAR*track tools help the built environment transition towards a sustainable and competitive future?

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On 22 June 2026, representatives of businesses, academia, and public and professional organisations came together for an event delivered by STAR*track Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC) e-CODOMH to discuss this key question.

The workshop, “Innovation Tools for the Construction Industry: Compliance and Sustainability in the Context of the New CPR 2024”, was opened by George Iliadis, e-CODOMH, and Yiannis Koulizakos, EBETAM A.E. – MIRTEC S.A.. In their opening remarks, both speakers highlighted the importance of compliance, sustainability and innovation in the new era of the building and construction industry.

Compliance and Sustainability Under Regulation (EU) 2024/3110 (CPR)

The first session focused on the new European Union (EU) Construction Products Regulation (CPR), with executives from the General Secretariat for Industry (GSI) presenting the requirements for economic operators and the challenges associated with implementing the regulation.

During the session, presenters emphasised that environmental sustainability in the new regulation is now established as a mandatory and measurable parameter for construction products.

The discussion highlighted the growing importance of sustainability requirements within the European construction sector and the need for businesses to prepare for the new regulatory landscape.

Innovation Tools for the Construction Industry – The STAR*track Tools

The second session showcased a range of practical tools developed through the STAR*track project to support innovation across the built environment.

Konstantina (Dia) Andreouli of e-CODOMH introduced the Greek B4PIC, before a series of presentations explored the project’s available digital tools and resources.

These included:

  • The Metabuilding Platform – Asier Hernandez Minaberry, from prpject partner Metabuilding, presented the platform, its tools and services designed to support the built environment ecosystem.
  • Digital Product Passport (DPP) – Agnese Riccetti, from project partner EcoWise, analysed the Digital Product Passport tool, which aims to become a key information portal for regulators, builders and architects.
  • Funding Opportunities – Vasiliki Tsotoulidi, R-NanoLab, presented a practical guide to European public funding opportunities available to organisations working within the built environment.

Supporting the Transition to a Sustainable Built Environment

The workshop highlighted that incorporating innovation, compliance and sustainability into every area of the built environment is no longer optional—it is a necessity.

By developing practical digital tools and supporting collaboration across industry, research and public organisations, the STAR*track project is helping businesses navigate regulatory change while accelerating the transition towards a more sustainable and competitive European construction sector.

Built4People and the STAR*track project would like to thank all attendees and presenters for their valuable contributions to the event.

Learn more about the STAR*track project.

WILSON – Distributed data modelling and Federated Digital Twinning for lifecycle data-driven sustainable operation and management of buildings and districts

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About the Project:

The built environment faces mounting pressures from climate change, resource scarcity, and the need for sustainable development across the full lifecycle of buildings. Yet, fragmented and siloed data within Building Management Systems (BMS) limits the effective use of lifecycle information for informed sustainability decision-making. WILSON addresses this challenge by introducing a transformative approach built on semantic data repositories, cognitive digital twins, and decentralised data management. Through a holistic and extensible data mesh architecture, the project ensures interoperability with existing proprietary BMS and Digital Twin systems while enabling improved building operations, environmental impact assessment, circularity evaluation, and advanced diagnostics. Central to this ecosystem are Personalised Building Data Hubs (PDHs), which apply International Data Space (IDS) principles to enable trusted data exchange and service transactions via a P2P marketplace.

Complementing these technological solutions, WILSON will deliver an Investment Tool providing stakeholders with detailed insights to guide decisions regarding building operation, renovation, and uptake of sustainable assets. To maximise its relevance and impact across Europe, the project’s integrated solutions will be validated in four large-scale pilots representing diverse contexts: a public district in Italy, a coastal hospital in Spain, an urban mixed district in the UK, and a rural residential area in Switzerland.

Press Release #7 – WILSON & UPSCALE Projects Announce Joint Workshop on Data Spaces for Construction

The WILSON and UPSCALE Projects will host the international “Data Spaces for Construction” workshop at TU/e on 21 May 2026, bringing together experts from research, industry, technology, and policy to advance interoperable, secure, and sovereign data sharing across the built environment. The event will explore essential components of construction-focused data spaces, such as reference architectures, governance and trust frameworks, semantic standards, and technical integration layers, through three parallel hands-on sessions covering business readiness, governance models, and scalable technical architectures. Concluding with a synthesis plenary, networking forum, and reception, the workshop aims to strengthen collaboration and shape a shared roadmap that accelerates the adoption of open, trustworthy, and interoperable data spaces, supporting Europe’s move toward more circular, digital, and climate‑neutral construction ecosystems.

For more information: https://wilson-project.eu/wilson-press-release-v7/

Recent Publications

WILSON’s latest publications showcase the project’s advancements in intelligent, interoperable, and sustainability‑driven solutions for the built environment. The first explores how adaptive and general‑purpose AI can better leverage complex building data to move beyond fixed-purpose automation. The second introduces a domain‑specific Vocabulary Hub that enhances semantic data exchange and interoperability across AECO data spaces. The third presents a hybrid assessment method for evaluating the impacts and benefits of nature‑based solutions in urban systems.

For more information: https://wilson-project.eu/publications/  

Innovation in action: strengthening climate resilience in Europe’s built environment

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As climate risks intensify across Europe, improving the resilience of the built environment is becoming increasingly important. From extreme heat and flooding to other natural hazards, buildings, districts and urban systems must be better prepared to withstand and adapt to these challenges. 

Through its engagement with 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 climate resilience-focused solutions that aim to address the challenge from different angles, from digital planning systems to early warning protocols. 

Please note: This page will be updated regularly as additional projects and innovations are added.  

Featured climate resilience projects and innovations: 

Minority Report– Renovation Road Mapping Decision Support System (DSS) 

Innovation type: Software 

Innovation development status: Under development. TRL 6 

A digital renovation planning platform that: 

  • Helps planners, architects, engineers and building professionals plan and optimise renovations 
  • Supports climate resilience and energy efficiency improvements at the district scale 
  • Facilitates collaboration between multiple stakeholders involved in renovation planning 
  • Provides digital decision-support throughout the renovation process 

Learn more about Minority Report. 

MULTICARE – Flash-Flood Early Warning Protocol for Tecuci City 

Innovation Type: System / Technology  

Innovation Development Status: Under development – TRL 6–7, validated in a relevant environment at the Tecuci pilot site (Romania).  

A digital data driven early warning system that: 

  • Enhances preparedness and minimises the impact of flash flood risks 
  • Integrates real-time river and rainfall sensors with European weather models  
  • Uses AI-assisted hydrological and hydraulic forecasting to predict flood scenarios 
  • Provides automatic alerts and visual dashboards for city operators and first responders 
  • Is designed with a modular structure enabling replication in other European cities exposed to flood and climate hazards 

Learn more about MULTICARE. 

MULTICLIMACT – CREMA Tool (Climate Resilience Maturity Assessment) 

Innovation type: Software, System, Technology  

Innovation development status: Under development, TRL6-7  

A climate resilience assessment tool that: 

  • Conducts comprehensive risk and resilience assessments across various scales, including buildings, urban areas, and entire territories  
  • Empowers decision-makers to evaluate the resilience of assets including cultural heritage sites, urban sectors, and regional amenities  
  • Applies probabilistic and deterministic risk assessment methods to evaluate potential threats, asset characterisation, vulnerability, and impacts 
  • Generates resilience scores and calculates Expected Annual Loss before and after resilience measures 
  • Translates damage into monetary losses to support cost-benefit analysis and intervention planning 

Learn more about MULTICLIMACT. 

Next steps  

These innovations demonstrate how digital tools, early warning systems and decision-support platforms can strengthen climate resilience across Europe’s built environment, helping decision-makers better understand risks, plan effective interventions and protect communities. 

STAR*track will continue to engage with EU-funded projects and expand this overview, highlighting practical, market-ready solutions and real-world applications as they emerge and mature across Europe 

Innovation in action: advancing retrofit solutions for Europe’s built environment

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Retrofitting Europe’s existing building stock is a critical priority for strengthening resilience and reducing emissions across the built environment. To achieve climate neutrality, Europe must prioritise deep, scalable renovation of existing buildings over new construction, delivering significant carbon savings in the process. This transition is enabled by emerging technologies, innovative business models, and collaboration across the sector.

Through its engagement with 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 retrofit-focused solutions that aim to address the challenge from different angles, from digital platforms to integrated renovation systems. 

Please note: This page will be updated regularly as additional projects and innovations are added. 

Featured retrofit projects and innovations

FORTESIE – FORTESIE Marketplace 

Innovation type: Software / system
Development status: On market / in use 

A collaborative digital platform that: 

  • Connects demand (building owners, public authorities) with supply (Energy Service Companies (ESCOs), companies and service providers) in energy renovation projects 
  • Showcases renovation products, services and complete packages 
  • Enables matchmaking, collaboration and partnership-building for public and private renovation projects 
  • Supports alternative financing and innovative business models
  • Boosts visibility for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and innovative providers across Europe 

 

Learn more about FORTESIE

HEART – Holistic Energy and Architectural Retrofit Toolkit 

Innovation type: System (integrated technological system combining material, software, and energy technologies)
Development status: Developed and tested in two pilot buildings (TRL 7) 

A systems and control driven retrofit toolkit that: 

  • Integrates building envelope, renewable energy, storage systems, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) in an interoperable system 
  • Uses a cloud-based decision support system (DSS) and building energy management system (BEMS) for predictive and adaptive control 
  • Reduces energy consumption, improves indoor comfort, and reduces installation time  
  • Supports deep renovation towards nearly Zero Eergy Building (nZEB) standards 

Learn more about HEART

RE-SKIN – RE-SKIN Renewable and Environmental-Sustainable Kit for Building Integration 

Innovation type: System (integrated circular renovation system combining materials, technologies, software, and processes)
Development status: Under development / Large-scale demonstration – Target TRL 7 by project end  

A circular, integrated renovation system that: 

  • Uses prefabricated, design-for-disassembly façades using bio-based and recycled materials 
  • Incorporates hybrid Building-Integrated Photovoltaic Thermal (BIPVT) roof systems combining photovoltaic and thermal energy 
  • Integrates envelope systems, hybrid renewables, smart HVAC, energy storage and electric vehicle charging with smart grid interaction 
  • Employs cloud-based life-cycle decision support and building energy management, to accelerate retrofit timelines and reduce life-cycle emissions

 

Learn more about RE-SKIN

Next steps 

These innovations demonstrate how digitalisation and integrated retrofit solutions can move renovation beyond isolated measures towards systemic transformation of Europe’s existing building stock. 

STAR*track will continue to engage with EU-funded projects and expand this overview, highlighting practical, market-ready solutions and real-world applications as they emerge and mature across Europe. 

Innovation in action across Europe’s built environment

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Across Europe, EU-funded projects are developing a wide range of innovative tools, systems and technologies, with a view of  transforming the built environment.  

STAR*track is engaging with these projects to highlight and share the innovations that are emerging from their work. These innovations address challenges across the full building life cycle, from design and construction to renovation and operation. Together, they demonstrate how research and innovation are being translated into practical solutions with real-world relevance, aiming to contribute to decarbonisation and resilience. 

To support knowledge-sharing and collaboration, STAR*track has developed an overview document showcasing a selection of these emerging innovations. The document provides a snapshot of project developments and innovations, highlighting solutions that are already beginning to make an impact. 

Access the document here:  

Featured EU-funded projects 

The document currently highlights innovations from the following projects: 

Together, these projects reflect the diversity of innovation underway across Europe’s built environment, spanning different technologies, scales, and application contexts. 

Next steps 

The overview document marks the starting point of a broader knowledge-sharing effort. Over the coming months, STAR*track will explore these innovations in more depth through seven key themes that reflect major pathways for change in the built environment.  

These thematic deep dives will highlight how different solutions respond to shared challenges, and where there is potential for replication and scaling across Europe. 

By continuing to spotlight these innovations, STAR*track aims to support inter-project learning, strengthen connections between stakeholders, and help accelerate the uptake of solutions that can deliver meaningful environmental and societal benefits. 

Built4People announces upcoming 2026 innovation and collaboration forum

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The Built4People Partnership is pleased to announce an upcoming forum on digital innovation and collaborative construction networks, taking place at Buildwise in Zaventem, Belgium, on 12 February 2026.

“When the EDIG and B4PIC Networks Meet” is a free cross-network collaboration forum that will bring together European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), Built4People Innovation Clusters (B4PICs), and key industry stakeholders.

This highly participatory full-day forum is designed to go beyond networking — turning connections into practical, real-world action.

Morning forum sessions will feature the B4PIC Network Insights & Ecosystem Overview, including presentations from:

  • EDIHs: A European Commission (EC) representative will provide an overview of the network and its service offer across four pillars.
  • B4PIC Network: Representatives from the EC and ECTP will present the network’s structure and role within the Built4People (B4P) initiative.
  • Thematic Working Group on Construction: EDIH Connect and DIH Cube will highlight key members, focus areas, and achievements.

Participants will then explore practical examples of EDIH services for companies, followed by a networking lunch and special visit involving live demonstrations at Buildwise’s facilities.

The afternoon sessions will focus on collaboration and co-creation, including:

  • Plenary Session: An overview of the participatory process will be presented, highlighting cooperation opportunities such as EU funding calls and co-organised events, as well as expected outcomes for participants.
  • Participatory Round Tables: Parallel working groups will enable participants to co-design initiatives, including joint EU funding proposals, valorisation of digital tools and project outcomes, startup events, and joint presence at the Smart City World Expo Congress.

The forum will conclude with insights on future European Union (EU) work programs, culminating with networking and beer tasting in the evening!

Availability is limited, and attendance is free, so interested parties are encouraged to register as soon as possible in advance to secure their place at this unique European innovation forum.

Register for the forum and see the full agenda here.

Nebula’s Final Event: a day of collaboration and knowledge sharing

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The final event of the Nebula project took place on 6 March 2025, bringing together over 100 participants in Brussels for a day of discussions, presentations, and networking. Organised in cooperation with the AEGIR, Woodstock, INGUMA, and Craft Cities projects, the event provided a platform to explore key themes in sustainable innovation and the built environment. 

Larissa De Rosso (ACE-CAE) discusses the promotion of New European Bauhaus principles and introduces the NEB Advisors.

The morning session, hosted by Nebula, opened with a presentation on the Built4People partnership and its work programme. Representatives from the hosting projects set the stage for the discussions ahead, highlighting the role of collaboration in driving sustainable transformation.

The first session focused on the power of innovation clusters, examining how they foster collaboration and aim to accelerate sustainability in the built environment. Experts discussed both the challenges and opportunities of innovation and shared their experiences with the process of signing the Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC) Charter.

Karine Laffont-Eloire (Dowel Innovation) leads the panel discussion on beautiful, sustainable, and inclusive renovation aligned with New European Bauhaus values.

The second session explored how to make renovation more sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful. Speakers presented case studies showcasing successful renovation approaches that align with the principles of circularity. 

A milestone for Built4People Innovation Clusters 

Six prospective B4PICs sign the Built4People Innovation Cluster Charter.

A key moment was the signing of the Built4People Innovation Cluster Charter, where six prospective B4PICs formalised their commitment to advancing sustainability and innovation in the built environment. This marks a significant step in strengthening cross-sector collaboration and supporting the growth of regional innovation clusters across Europe. Click here to learn more about the B4PIC cluster signing. 

Laura Pallares (WorldGBC) moderates the ‘Clusters to Drive Sustainable Innovation’ session.

Continuing the conversation on sustainable innovation 

The afternoon session and second day of the event, led by the AEGIR, Woodstock, INGUMA, and Craft Cities projects, built upon the discussions from day 1. Participants delved deeper into strategies for fostering sustainable innovation and collaboration across the built environment sector. 

Looking ahead: the STAR*track project 

Claudia Hunziker Keller (NOBATEK) introduces the STAR*track project.

As Nebula comes to an end, its work will continue through the STAR*track project, which launched in May 2024 and runs until April 2027. STAR*track aims to expand and strengthen the B4PIC Network established under Nebula, by offering supportive tools, funding opportunities, and training on sustainable and inclusive development.

Learn more about STAR*track.  

The presentations from the Nebula final event can be found here.

For those who couldn’t attend or wish to revisit the discussions, the full webinar recording is available here.