The built environment is facing two major challenges: becoming more sustainable/and more “people-centric” to improve individual well-being and social cohesion while delivering an efficient answer to climate change and biodiversity reduction. To overcome these challenges, combined technological and social innovations are needed.
The European Commission launched two major initiatives to support the stakeholders of the construction ecosystem, the Built4People Partnership: (B4P), for the funding of innovative projects, and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) launching a creative and transdisciplinary movement to reimagine sustainable living and allow actors from different backgrounds to join forces.
NEBULA is set to convene a powerful network of innovators to accelerate transformation in the highly fragmented built environment sector. It aims to activate and nurture a network of Innovation Clusters, connecting and scaling innovations across Europe, and make the bridge between the B4P and the NEB initiative. It will thus:
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Spread a trans-disciplinary and participative approach to innovation, through peer learning activities, including the development of guidelines on the NEB concepts (i.e. linking architecture, engineering and human sciences), the set-up of a network of NEB ambassadors, and a series of local workshops and webinars.
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Facilitate networking and collaboration between innovators through open innovation activities, trainings for innovation clusters, identification and promotion of innovations with high market potential, and the access to the Metabuilding platform (notably the matchmaking tool).
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Improve access to public and private funds for innovators through the set-up of a finance toolbox that will identify funding opportunities and provide training materials (videos, factsheets, templates etc.) on how to access these funds.
Figure 1: Objectives and main activities of NEBULA
Through the project, Innovation Clusters will therefore have the opportunity to:
Figure 2: Added-value of joining the B4P Innovation Clusters
NEBULA (Grant n°101079859) started in October 2022 and is coordinated by Dowel Innovation. It will be completed in April 2025. Dowel Innovation is also leading the design of the finance toolbox and Help Desk.