METAclustering for cross-sectoral and cross-border innovation ecosystem BUILDING for the European Construction, Additive Manufacturing and Nature-Based Solutions industrial sectors’ SMEs

Project Information

METABUILDING

Grant agreement ID: 873964

DOI

10.3030/873964

Project closed

EC signature date 15 April 2020

Start date 1 June 2020

End date 31 May 2023

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 5 126 624,99

EU contribution

€ 4 996 124,99

Coordinated by

NOBATEK
France

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - METABUILDING (METAclustering for cross-sectoral and cross-border innovation ecosystem BUILDING for the European Construction, Additive Manufacturing and Nature-Based Solutions industrial sectors’ SMEs)

Reporting period: 2021-12-01 to 2023-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

What is the problem/issue being addressed?
The construction industry plays a very important role in the European economy. It generates 9% of the GDP of the European Union and provides 18 million jobs, which represents 31% of industrial employment. Unfortunately, the sector presents an inherent incapacity to innovate. An extremely low investment in R&D and a significant deficit in terms of productivity growth can be seen at all levels, but in particular where SMEs are involved which represent 99,9% of the companies and generate 80% of the output of the sector.
The goal of the METABUILDING project was to bring innovation to the Construction sector by fostering cross-sectoral and cross-border collaboration and, in particular, providing innovation support to SMEs.

The innovation support provided to SMEs by the METABUILDING project was achieved through:
1. Financing innovation services (SEED vouchers) and collaborative innovation projects (GROW/HARVEST grants) through open calls directed at SMEs
2. Creating a European Innovation Ecosystem for an Enlarged Built Environment sector with easy access for SMEs
3. Establishment of the METABUILDING open innovation platform providing long-term innovation support to SMEs and other interested innovation actors

Why is it important for society?
Supporting SMEs to engage in innovation and open up and collaboration with actors from more innovative sectors, helps them to develop their innovation potential, to co-develop new solutions and products, and, by doing so, to become economic drivers of the sector and increase their turnover.

What are the overall objectives?
The main objective of the METABUILDING project was to support SMEs to engage innovation, to do international business and to rapidly bring new products and services coming from cross-sectoral innovation to the market.
Furthermore, the project aimed at launching the European Innovation Ecosystem of the Enlarged Built Environment sector and providing it with a digital meeting and collaboration space in the form of the METABUILDING platform which will guarantee long-term innovation support to clusters and companies - in particular SMEs - of the construction sector to engage in collaborative innovation and business.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The METABUILDING project was characterised by the definition and implementation of the SEED and GROW/HARVEST calls. SMEs received support on national level in the 6 target countries Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Portugal for the preparation of the proposals, implementation of the projects and the dissemination of project results and integration in national and local ecosystems.

Furthermore, actions were undertaken to launch a cross-sectoral, cross-border European Innovation Ecosystem of an Enlarged Built Environment sector. 9 virtual National Construction Technology Platforms and 4 sectoral platforms have been set-up and are open for interested users that register on the METABUILDING platform.

The METABUILDING platform has been created providing innovation support and information to interested innovation stakeholders. Its main focus is to help SMEs to successfully engage in innovation activities and international business. This is mainly achieved by facilitating access to innovation experts and financing, by providing information on testing facilities and support and the possibility to showcase for free innovative products and services and find innovation and business partners.

The following main results have been achieved:
• 5 sectors/disciplines involved (Construction, Additive Manufacturing, Nature Based solutions, ICT, Recycling and Circular Economy), 4 with dedicated sectoral platform (Construction, Additive Manufacturing, Nature Based solutions, Recycling and Circular Economy)
• 2 SEED calls and 2 GROW/HARVEST call successfully launched and evaluated
• Nearly 400 innovation ideas/projects received
• 100 innovation ideas/projects supported
• 154 innovative SME financed
• 6 METABUILDING national contact points provide administrative and technical support to candidates
• 121 Innovation Stakeholders signed charter to support SME innovation
• 724 key innovation actors identified in the 6 target countries (Austria, France, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain)
• 1 METABUILDING platform with 6 modules up and running
• 182 organisation and 22 cluster from 21 European countries registered on the METABUILDING platform

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Progress beyond the state of the art
The METABUILDING project has been able to raise the awareness for the necessity of cross-sectoral and cross border collaboration. The results of the awarded GROW/HARVEST projects show the potential of cross-sectoral collaboration to come up with new products and solutions responding to today's societal needs. The sectoral platforms ECTP, EURIC, AM platform and EFB have realised the need of closer collaboration between sectors and disciplines and have started discussions on collaboration opportunities and joint road-mapping. Construction chapters have been initiated in EURIC and the AM platform evidencing the importance of the construction sector for their respective disciplines.

Results of the project
154 innovative SMEs have been financed during the METABUILDING project. The results of the 40 GROW/HARVEST projects evidence the high potential and important impact of cross-sectoral innovation with respect to societal challenges. A comprehensive description of results can be found in the booklet called. A synthetic overview of project results and impacts can be found in the booklet "METABUILDING: Unleashing the Innovation Potential of EU Construction SMEs" > https://bit.ly/METABUILDING_Winner_Projects Furthermore, the METABUILDING platform facilitates long-term innovation support for SMEs due to its utilisation in other EU projects and activities, namely for the management and integration of Built4People Innovation Clusters. The expansion of the European Innovation Ecosystems will continue and aims at integrating National Construction Technology Platforms of all 28 EU member states and its regions focussing on a sustainable and inclusive construction and built environment.

Impacts
• Easy access to innovation experts and innovation support for SMEs
• SMEs as front-runners of cross-sectoral innovative solutions in the construction sector
• Collaboration and interaction between sectors/disciplines in an Enlarged Built Environment sector
Socio-economic impact
• Increased turnover for SMEs based to new products and solutions
• Long-term positive impact on the green and digital transition of the construction sector
• Growth and resilience of European Industry based on new cross-sectoral industrial value chains
Wider societal implications
• Innovative solutions to societal challenges reducing carbon footprint and energy consumption and addressing climate change
• Biodiversity and human compliant Built Environment thanks to the application of new technologies and Nature-Based Solutions

SEED and GROW/HARVEST calls

METABUILDING platform landing page

GROW/HARVEST project results and impact

5 METABUILDING sectors