New European innovation and sustainability model

Eraikune and TECNALIA will implement the new European innovation and sustainability model in more than 130 Basque construction companies

• The Basque construction sector will become a European benchmark with the implementation of the New European Bauhaus, a movement initiated by the European Commission to promote the architectural dimension and its value in improving the quality of life of cities and territories.
• This initiative will be complemented by the launch of the first European innovation meta-cluster, between the Basque Country and Aquitaine, to accelerate the transformation towards a sustainable and people-centred built environment
• Companies in this new cluster will benefit from incubating innovative solutions, reaching new markets through collaboration and knowledge transfer in accessibility, user-friendly design, sustainability or energy efficiency

23 February 2023. Construction is facing a revolution and is moving towards a new model of innovation with the challenge of achieving a balance between technology and society, in line with the New European Bauhaus (NEB), a movement initiated by the European Commission to promote the architectural dimension and its value in improving the quality of life of towns and cities. The Basque Construction Cluster, Eraikune, and the TECNALIA research and technological development centre will be responsible for implementing the European innovation and sustainability NEB in more than 130 Basque construction companies, making the Basque Country a European benchmark in the sector.

The New European Bauhaus proposes criteria for companies to introduce processes to ensure well-being, health and accessibility in the built environment and the future of the sector. The aim is to address new, more sustainable materials and more innovative and people-centred services, such as accessibility, friendly design, inclusivity, sustainability or energy efficiency, through the smart use of digital tools.

The project culminates with the launch of the first European innovation meta-cluster in the construction sector, between the Basque Country and Aquitaine, to accelerate the transformation towards a sustainable and people-centred built environment. This pilot experience, which will begin next March, will be led by Eraikune and TECNALIA from the Basque Country, along with the Nobatek Technology Centre and the Odeys construction cluster, both of which are based in Aquitaine.

Therefore, the companies in this new cluster, of which there will be more than 250, will benefit from collaboration opportunities that will enable them to incubate innovative solutions, reaching new markets through collaboration and knowledge transfer in accessibility, sustainability, health and energy efficiency.

Cultural heritage, circular economy and friendly and accessible environments

The initiative is part of the NEBULA project, backed by the European Build4People construction platform and the European Union, which has selected Eraikune in the Basque Country and Odeys in Aquitaine as the two clusters in the construction sector to be the European reference for the deployment of the New European Bauhaus. TECNALIA, as a standard bearer of the European Green Pact, will contribute its expertise in cultural heritage, circular economy and friendly and accessible environments to adapt the principles of sustainability, aesthetics and inclusion in developments for the Basque construction sector.

Eraikune and Odeys will become regional innovation ecosystems in the construction sector to ensure not only technological innovation but also sustainability, inclusiveness and circularity throughout the entire innovation life cycle in the sector.

Innovation Clusters Network

This project is expected to foster the launch of a total of 15 clusters to create a network of Innovation Clusters over the next five years, connecting and scaling sustainable innovation in the built environment across Europe, with the objectives of: accelerating time to market for innovation in the sector; fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge transfer between members of these innovation clusters; and providing resources and guidance on key issues, such as financing, business planning and effective cluster operation.

In addition to Eraikune and TECNALIA, the partners in this European project are: Dowel (project coordinator), European Construction Technology Platform, the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP), Nobatek, World Green Building Council, the Regional Network of Green Building Councils (WorldGBC), R2M and the Architects' Council of Europe (ACE).

About Eraikune

Eraikune, the Basque Construction Cluster, represents the public-private construction ecosystem in the Basque Country. The aim of the cluster is to boost the competitiveness of companies throughout the entire construction value chain by means of sectoral collaboration, innovation and internationalisation.

The 145 associated entities include public administrations, financial agents, insurance companies, business and professional associations, knowledge agents, companies from the promotion, design, manufacturing, construction, infrastructure and building operation, recovery and smart-consulting sub-sector. Eraikune’s main fields of action are: Energy retrofitting, industrialisation, digitalisation and sustainable construction.

About TECNALIA

TECNALIA is the largest applied research and technological development centre in Spain, a European benchmark and member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. TECNALIA works with companies and institutions to increase their competitiveness, improve quality of life of people and achieve sustainable growth. This is possible thanks to people who are passionate about technology and committed to building a better society. The centre’s main scopes of action are Digital Transformation, Smart Manufacturing, Energy Transition, Sustainable Mobility, Urban Ecosystem, Personalised Health and Circular Economy.