The recording of episode #3 of our webinar series “New Bauhaus Stories” is now available online here.

It addresses the following questions:

• Is the New European Bauhaus (NEB) compatible with a business approach?
• Can we develop solutions that both embed the inspirational values of the NEB (sustainability, beauty, inclusivity) whilst also appealing to a competitive market?

The session gathers three startups that developed ‘NEB-by-design’ solutions with the support of a dedicated mentoring and funding programme launched by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Community NEB.

Natalia Vera, Climate KIC, introduces the NEB Journey proposed by the EIT (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) NEB Community to support innovators and accelerate start-ups. Speakers from European start-ups that have developped ‘NEB-by-design’ solutions share their respective experience:

• Geoffrey Eberle, ENTROPIC,  introduces the NEST solution from Spain, a façade panel technology that creates living spaces for plants and animals within the urban environment, while improving buildings’ acoustic and thermal performance.
• Anastasya Syvolob presents GEODESIC.LIFE, a Ukrainian startup that commercialises affordable prefabricated eco-friendly dome homes.
• Moujan Mahdian tells us about IMPERFECT (Belgium), an online platform enabling circular construction with streamlined audits of reclaimed materials and integrated environmental impact tracking.

The guest speakers then discuss the support available from a dedicated mentoring and funding programme launched by the EIT Community NEB and give recommendations for entrepreneurs interested in applying for this scheme.

B4P was at the European Cluster Conference 2024 !

It was a pleasure to greet you at our stand to help us build the B4P Innovation Clusters network. 

The different sessions of the conference demonstrated the role of clusters in engaging and strenghtening strategic European value chains. This becomes especially true when clusters join forces and connect as a network of clusters. Indeed, a network of clusters allows SMEs to complement each other along the value chain at European level, while also allowing them to be more attractive at an international scale, thus offering them more market opportunities and negociation strength. A stronger collaboration will also facilitate the attraction of investments, and reduce associated risks.

To defend this statement, different metaclusters from large and strategic European value chains presented their activities and outcomes. These metaclusters represented the automotive, electronics, aerospace and food industries.

However, no large European metacluster had yet been formed for the construction setor, despite it being flagged as the second largest industrial ecosystem in the EU (see here the Transition Pathway for Construction). Based on this observation, the B4P partnership is creating its network of clusters, the B4PIC, and encourages a closer cooperation between stakeholders from the quadruple helix in the built environment. We launched a first call for expression of interest in January 2024, and selected 12 first members to join the B4PIC network.

What’s next?

We now need you to make the most out of the B4PIC network! Let us know what your needs are, and don’t hesitate to propose projects ideas or peer-learning activities to our members.

Do you want to join our network or take part in our activities? Contact us!

Following the call for expressions of interest for existing hubs or clusters within the European buildings and construction sector to become a Built4People Innovation Cluster (B4PIC), the Nebula project received a flood of applications during the last quarter of 2023. 16 ‘prospective’ B4PICs have now been identified and will proceed to the next phase of the cluster maturation process.

The multidisciplinary B4PIC Network aims to action sustainable innovation across the European built environment and to help to hit European Union (EU) climate targets for Europe’s ageing building stock, which is lagging behind in the green transition. The innovative network of clusters will also aim to scale new solutions, products and services aligned with the ambitions of the European Green Deal and the New European Bauhaus.

As part of the next step in the cluster identification and maturation process, each B4PIC will be assigned an accompanying partner from within the Nebula consortium. Accompanying partners will play a vital role in helping the B4PICs to set up their maturity roadmaps, with the collective aim for all prospective B4PICs to sign the Built4People Innovation Cluster Charter. The first group of nine prospective B4PICs are due to sign the charter at the Built4People Stakeholders Forum in Luxembourg on 23 September 2024.

A map of the B4PIC Network is shown above.

The firsts members of the B4PIC Network, Built:INN (Basque Country Construction Cluster) and Odéys (Cluster construction et aménagements durables in Nouvelle-Aquitaine), signed the B4PIC Charter on 18 September 2023, confirming their participation in the network. These clusters will collaborate to mobilise innovation in the building and construction sector in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Euskadi Navarra euroregion, and have now each embarked on the required cluster maturation process.

By signing the B4PIC Charter, the B4PICs declare their commitment to work collaboratively across the network and to fundamentally contribute to Built4People’s objectives, with respect to the New European Bauhaus (NEB) core values and working principles.

Follow the #NebulaB4P and #Built4People hashtags on social media for regular updates on the newly identified prospective clusters as they begin their journey towards joining the B4PIC Network.

Read more about the Nebula project here.