Built4People Partnership Stakeholders Forum

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Save the date! The 5th Built4People Partnership Stakeholders Forum “Building Europe’s Resilient Future” is coming this October

7 October 2026 | 09h00 – 16h30 CEST

Buildwise Zaventem, Brussels (Kleine Kloosterstraat 23, 1932 Zaventem)

The 5th Built4People Partnership Stakeholders Forum, organised by the European Commission, CINEA, the European Construction and sustainable built environment Technology Platform (ECTP) and the European Network of Construction Companies for Research & Development (ENCORD), will take place on 7 October 2026, from 09:00 to 16:30 CEST, at Buildwise (Kleine Kloosterstraat 23, 1932 Zaventem, Brussels).

Celebrating its fifth edition, this year’s Forum will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers and key stakeholders from across Europe to explore how research, innovation and collaboration can strengthen the resilience of the built environment. Under this year’s motto, the event will focus on advancing resilient, sustainable and people-centred solutions to address Europe’s evolving environmental, societal and economic challenges.

Participants will have the opportunity to engage with high-level representatives from the European Commission and leading experts through keynote speeches, policy discussions and interactive exchanges. The programme will address some of the most pressing priorities shaping the future of the built environment, including:

  • defence, preparedness, security and technological sovereignty in the built environment;
  • circularity and resource-efficient construction solutions;
  • industrialisation and scale-up in construction;
  • the role of artificial intelligence and robotics in supporting climate resilience and the robustness of the built environment;
  • affordable housing as a driver for inclusive and resilient communities;
  • the New European Bauhaus and the transition beyond pilot projects.

The Forum will also provide an opportunity to discuss the future of the Built4People Partnership, including its phasing-out strategy and legacy towards FP10. In addition, participants will witness the Built4People Innovation Clusters (B4PICs) Charter Signing Ceremony, during which a new cohort of prospective B4PICs will officially sign the Built4People Charter and become Emerging B4PICs. The event will also celebrate the continued growth of the B4PIC community through a Declaration of Further Level of Maturity, recognising the progression of the most advanced B4PICs from Emerging to Established status.

Secure your spot by registering here.

The preliminary agenda will be published soon. Stay tuned for further announcements, including confirmed speakers and the full programme.

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.

Expanding the Built4People Innovation Clusters Network: three new B4PICs sign the charter at ECTP Conference 2026

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One of the highlights of the ECTP Conference 2026, held in Brussels on 26–27 May, was the session dedicated to the evolution and future development of the Built4People Innovation Clusters (B4PIC)  Network.

The session showcased the progress achieved by the B4PIC Network in strengthening collaboration, accelerating innovation uptake and fostering regional engagement across Europe’s built environment ecosystem. By connecting research organisations, industry actors, public authorities and local stakeholders, B4PICs play a key role in translating European research and innovation results into tangible impact on the ground.

Opening the session, Anastasiya Yurchyshyna, Secretary General of ECTP, recalled the vision and objectives of the Built4People co-programmed partnership under Horizon Europe, highlighting its mission to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable, climate-neutral and people-centric built environment. She also presented the current state of the B4PIC Network, which today brings together 34 B4PICs from 21 countries across the EU and beyond. Of these, 26 had already achieved Emerging B4PIC status, while eight were recognised as Prospective B4PICs, demonstrating the growing interest in joining the network and contributing to its objectives.

A key moment of the session was the B4PIC signing ceremony, during which three Prospective B4PICs officially signed their B4PIC Charters and became Emerging B4PICs:

  • ARIC Cluster (Rioja Association for Innovation in Construction): ARIC is a non-profit association made up of companies and different entities that cover the entire value chain of the construction sector and share an interest in promoting its sustainable and balanced development.

  • Digital Innovation Cluster for the Built Environment (DICE): DICE seeks to establish a value-chain of digital planning and construction for smart buildings and smart cities, and bring a data-driven perspective to B4PIC’s physical-built environment innovation ecosystem (data-driven design and engineering, wireless infrastructures, and digital planning tools).

  • Xylofutur: The national competitiveness cluster for the forest-wood-chemical sector in France, aims to develop the competitiveness of the sector through Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) and to sustainably meet the needs of industry and society while preserving resources.

The signing marked an important milestone in the continued expansion of the network and reaffirmed the commitment of regional innovation ecosystems across Europe to support collaboration, knowledge exchange and innovation deployment in the built environment sector.

As the Built4People Partnership continues to mobilise stakeholders across the value chain, the growing B4PIC Network demonstrates the importance of place-based innovation ecosystems in bringing European research closer to markets, citizens and regions.

The ceremony also highlighted the increasing momentum behind the network and its contribution to amplifying the impact of both Built4People and ECTP activities, creating stronger links between European initiatives and regional implementation. With new members joining and existing clusters further strengthening their activities, the B4PIC Network continues to play a central role in ensuring that innovation reaches the local level and contributes to a more sustainable, resilient and people-centred built environment across Europe.

From Collaboration to Innovation: Syxis Gathered Europe’s Built Environment Community in Vilnius

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Bringing Together the European Built Environment Community

On 13 May 2026, the VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Hub hosted the international conference “From Sustainability to Funded Innovation”, an event organised by the Built4People Innovation Cluster Syxis together with its co-organisers and ecosystem partners, including VILNIUS TECH Sustainability Hub, NCP and Research Council of Lithuania.

The event created a collaborative space where academia, industry, innovation actors and institutional representatives could exchange perspectives on the future of sustainable construction, exploring how shared expertise and cross-sector cooperation can generate concrete pathways toward European innovation initiatives.

Syxis’ Vision: Connecting People, Ideas and Innovation

As an innovation hub active within the European built environment landscape and part of the Built4People Innovation Cluster activities, Syxis designed the event with the objective of strengthening engagement, collaboration and co-creation among stakeholders working on sustainability and innovation. The conference reflected the organisation’s broader mission of connecting people, competences and ideas in order to support transformative pathways capable of shaping a more sustainable future for the sector.

Rather than focusing only on funding opportunities, the event aimed to showcase how effective collaboration ecosystems are created in practice. Through interactive sessions, networking activities and project-oriented discussions, participants explored the dynamics behind successful European partnerships, from consortium building and pilot development to knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement.

Addressing the Challenges of the Built Environment Transition

Throughout the day, speakers addressed key challenges currently shaping the construction and built environment sectors, including sustainability transitions, circularity, digitalisation and resilience. Discussions highlighted how European frameworks such as Horizon Europe, Built4People and the New European Bauhaus continue to encourage integrated and multidisciplinary approaches to innovation.

Particular attention was given to the importance of pilot-driven methodologies and collaborative experimentation environments. Several presentations showcased how research organisations, companies and local actors can work together to test innovative solutions, validate technologies and accelerate the transition from ideas to scalable implementation scenarios.

The Role of Clusters and Collaborative Ecosystems

One of the central themes of the conference was the value of clusters and innovation communities in enabling meaningful cooperation across Europe. Drawing from experiences connected to the Built4People ecosystem, the event demonstrated how cluster-based collaboration can facilitate matchmaking, shared expertise, proposal development and the creation of long-term strategic partnerships.

The programme also included practical workshop activities focused on European call analysis and collaborative project-building exercises. Participants worked together to identify complementarities between organisations, discuss future pilot scenarios and explore concrete pathways for developing competitive Horizon Europe proposals.

Building the Future Through Engagement and Co-Creation

The Vilnius conference ultimately highlighted the growing importance of ecosystem-building within the European innovation landscape. By combining technical discussions, collaborative workshops and networking opportunities, the event reinforced the idea that the future of the built environment depends not only on technological advancement, but also on the capacity to create connected, engaged and interdisciplinary communities working toward shared sustainability goals.

STAR*track general meeting advances collaboration and innovation in Bolzano

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This week, STAR*track project partners gathered in Bolzano, Italy, for the project’s three-day bi-annual General Meeting.

Hosted by project partner, Eurac Research, at NOI Techpark, the meeting offered a chance for partners to collaborate, knowledge-share and progress plans to strengthen the Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC) Network, with the collective aim of advancing sustainable and circular innovation across the European built environment.

As well as progress updates and key happenings from across the project, agenda highlights included:

Local Italian innovation

Chiara Dipasquale (Würth Italia) presenting their innovation startegy.

Partners enjoyed a comprehensive overview of the local Italian innovation ecosystem, with a spotlight on relevant case studies that highlight how collaboration between public/private stakeholders, alongside grants, technology transfer, and interdisciplinary platforms, can help drive sustainable advancements in the construction sector.

B4PIC best practices

Project partners discussing B4PIC best practices in Bolzano Italy.

A roundtable session was held to discuss and identify Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC) best practices and lessons learnt so far from STAR*track’s dedicated cluster maturation process.

These practices will be added to a special project booklet (watch this space for its release announcement!).

Site visit: Eurac Research’s laboratories

Eurac’s Façade System Interactions lab, in NOI Techpark, Bolzano, Italy.

Partners had the opportunity to visit Eurac Research’s laboratories, including the Façade System Interactions lab, where innovative building systems are tested to better understand how façade configurations influence energy performance, indoor environmental quality, and occupant comfort. Through real-scale testing and comparative analysis, the laboratory supports the optimisation of sustainable building solutions and demonstrates how research and innovation can help improve the performance and resilience of the built environment.

Workshop on replication

Partners discussed how the B4PIC Network could inspire the creation of other sustainable networks across the European Union (EU) and beyond, and goals for the B4PIC Network’s own sustainability.

Learn more about the Built4People Partnership and STAR*track project.

STAR*track convenes in Bolzano to further project’s sustainability goals

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Today, STAR*track project partners are gathered in Bolzano, Italy, to mark the beginning of the project’s three-day bi-annual General Meeting, hosted by project partner, Eurac Research at NOI Techpark.

The first day of the project’s General Meeting was focused on a comprehensive overview of the local Italian innovation ecosystem.

Various workshops and discussions throughout the day aimed to shine a spotlight on relevant case studies that highlight how collaboration between public and private stakeholders, alongside grants, technology transfer, international networks, and interdisciplinary platforms, can drive sustainable advancements in the construction sector.

Key highlights from day one included:

  • Exploring South Tyrol’s innovation ecosystem and NOI Techpark’s role in supporting innovation, funding, and technology transfer.
  • Insights from IDM Südtirol on engaging companies and strengthening the construction sector.
  • Real experiences from regional & EU innovation ecosystems, including Habitech and the B4PIC Network.
  • Corporate perspectives from Würth Italia on innovation strategies and working with research & public funding.
  • Spotlight on STAR*track and the growing European B4PIC community.
  • Discovering the MetaBuilding digital ecosystem and cross-border Metacluster collaboration with project partners, ZAG and EURAC.
  • Inspiring case studies from various locally and EU-funded (Horizon Europe) companies, sharing lessons learned and replication potential.
  • A full day of knowledge exchange, collaboration, and forward-thinking ideas—showcasing how EU support and strong partnerships are shaping the future of construction

A week in Bolzano

Stay tuned for more updates from Bolzano this week, as project partners continue to discuss and plan how STAR*track can further help to deliver a future for Europe that is sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive, in alignment with the New European Bauhaus’ (NEB) values.

Learn more about STAR*track.

ECTP Conference 2026: preliminary programme released

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 Built4People is delighted to announce that the European Construction and sustainable built environment Technology Platform (ECTP) has released a preliminary programme for its 2026 annual conference.

Taking place between 26–27 May 2026 at the Thon Hotel Bristol Stephanie in Brussels, Belgium, this year’s conference is entitled “Building Europe’s Competitiveness in the Built Environment: from Strategic Vision to Industrial Impact”.

The preliminary programme provides a first overview of the main sessions, topics and speakers, and reflects the three major priorities of this year’s event:

  • Looking towards a resilient, decarbonised, adaptive and regenerative built environment
  • How to create an enriching, inclusive and health-improving built environment
  • Examining a competitive, digitalised and circular value chain

The event will bring together key stakeholders from across the construction and built environment value chain to discuss future priorities in research and innovation, share the updated Position Papers of the ECTP Committees, and launch the discussions for the revision of the Strategic Research Agenda (SRIA).

Among the wide range of sessions covering key topics such as decarbonisation, circularity, digitalisation and innovation in the built environment, two sessions may be of particular interest for the Built4People community:

26 May (17:30–18:15) “History and state-of-play of the Built4People Innovation Clusters network (B4PIC network). Signing Ceremony of B4PIC Charters by new Emerging B4PICs”

Organised by the ECTP Secretariat and the Built4People Partnership management team.

This session will provide a clear overview of what the Built4People Innovation Clusters (B4PICs) are and their role in strengthening innovation at national and regional levels. Participants will also learn about the current state of the network, which already brings together 34 Built4People Innovation Clusters from 21 different EU-countries, and beyond.

The session will be followed by a Signing Ceremony, during which prospective B4PICs will officially sign their B4PIC Charters, becoming Emerging Built4People Innovation Clusters and committing to the maturation process.

27 May (10:20–11:35) “NEB Facility: which achievements, which gaps?”

Organised by Dowel Innovation.

This session will focus on the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Facility and will provide an overview of the main achievements so far, as well as the existing gaps and future challenges. It will be particularly relevant for stakeholders involved in research, innovation and implementation activities linked to the built environment.

We invite you to explore the preliminary draft programme and secure your place at the Conference.

Early-bird registration is open until 31 March 2026, so make sure to register in time to benefit from the reduced rate.

In addition, ECTP members benefit from an extra 30% discount. If you are an ECTP member, please check your email inbox—a dedicated registration link with the member discount has already been sent.

Join ECTP and members of the B4P Network in Brussels to exchange ideas, strengthen collaboration and shape the future of the built environment in Europe.

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