New European Bauhaus Unlocked through Built4People-endorsed Local Actions

_ Duration 2022 – 2025

_ Programme Horizon Europe

_ Call  HORIZON-CL5-2021-D4-02

_ Total Project Budget € 1.019.908,75

_ Grant Agreement model Budget-Based

Short description 

The NEBULA project, funded by the EU under Horizon Europe, aimed to accelerate the transformation of the built environment by activating and nurturing a network of Innovation Clusters across Europe. Building upon the Built4People (B4P) partnership and the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative, NEBULA facilitated cross-border collaboration, peer learning, and access to funding for innovators in the construction sector. The project focused on enhancing the visibility and uptake of innovative solutions aligned with NEB principles – sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion – by providing tailored support to clusters at various stages of maturity. This included matchmaking, training, and the development of strategic plans to integrate emerging clusters into the broader B4P network. NEBULA’s activities culminated in the establishment of a robust network of B4P Innovation Clusters, poised to continue fostering innovation and sustainable practices in the built environment beyond the project’s duration.

The Architects´ Council of Europe’s involvement 

The Architects’ Council of Europe (ACE) played a pivotal role in the NEBULA project, bridging the Built4People (B4P) Innovation Cluster network with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative. As part of its activities, ACE coordinated and engaged the NEB Advisors community, a network of experts appointed to connect local innovation networks with NEB resources and opportunities. ACE also contributed to the development of the “New European Bauhaus: a Handbook,” a publication aimed at helping stakeholders understand and implement NEB principles in their projects. Additionally, ACE supported a series of six webinars on NEB topics, including organising one focused on NEB and Education, to foster knowledge exchange and promote NEB values across Europe.

Project results 

The NEBULA project successfully activated and nurtured a network of Built4People Innovation Clusters (B4PICs), enhancing the visibility and adoption of innovative solutions aligned with the New European Bauhaus (NEB) principles of sustainability, aesthetics, and inclusion. Through tailored support, including matchmaking sessions, capacity-building workshops, and access to a finance toolbox, NEBULA facilitated the maturation of clusters across five key dimensions: full value-chain coverage, cross-sectoral integration, combined local and national/EU networking, cross-border connections, and access to testbeds and demonstration spaces. The project also produced several deliverables, such as the B4P Innovation Cluster Charter, a strategic replication plan, and a vademecum on integrating NEB principles into innovation cycles, providing a roadmap for future cluster development. By the project’s conclusion, NEBULA had successfully onboarded 18 B4PICs, including clusters from Spain, Italy, Greece, Serbia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, thereby fostering a robust, cross-border innovation ecosystem dedicated to transforming the European built environment. The project’s key results include the NEB Handbook, the NEB Advisors Community and the series of webinars.

Coordinator

DOWEL Innovation – France

Project Partners

_ European Construction and Sustainable Built Environment Technology Platform – Belgium
_ R2M Solution – Italy
_ World Green Building Council Europe – Belgium
_ Architects´ Council of Europe – Belgium
_ Tecnalia Research & Innovation – Spain
_ Nobatek – Inef 4 – France
_ EMI Epitesugyi Minosegellenorzo Innovacios Nonprofit Kft – Hungary
_ Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy – Finland
_ Federazione Delle Costruzioni – Italy
_ Hrvatski Savjet Za Zelenu Gradnju – Croatia
_ Green Building Council Finland Ry – Finland
_ Polskie Stowarzyszenie Budownictwa Ekologicznego – Poland
_ Serbia Green Building Council – Serbia
_ Irish Green Building Council Limited By Guarantee – Ireland
_ Symvoulio Aeiforon Ktirion Elladas – Greece
_ Build Inn Asociacion Cluster De La construccion De Euskadi – Spain
_ Odeys – France

For more information

NEBULA website | LinkedIn page

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement
No 101079859.