Final Report Summary - ENABLE (Raising European Awareness of a Sustainable Built Environment) The project was a Specific Support Action (SSA) aimed to support the European Construction Technology Platform (ECTP) and to help the promotion of its results among the European countries. The main mission of the platform was to raise the sector to a higher word-beating level of performance and competitiveness through a new strategy in Research and Innovation. The next step tackled by ECTP was to define its Strategic research agenda (SRA) focusing on goals and research areas. ENABLE was an SSA aiming at raising awareness amongst Europeans of the benefits that would result from investing in a more sustainable built environment. The main objectives of ENABLE were to identify drivers for change within communities of users in different countries, to assess the current level of awareness of sustainability and to gather industry and user led visions and research priorities for a sustainable environment which could contribute to an overall long term Vision 2030 for Europe. In order to reach these objectives, ENABLE activities were focused on: - implementing a network of National technology platforms (NTPs) in the framework of the ECTP, set up in mid-2004, on the benefits of a sustainable environment, in order to reach a wide group of people, clients and the construction sector itself; - mapping technologies that stakeholders expect to influence the future of the built environment and assisting the European Commission in distinguishing between European, national and regional priorities for research and innovation; - working at European level (ECTP activities) and in a large number of European countries at a local level, seeking to reach directly representative communities of users from the sector; - allowing groups to interact with each other, sharing ideas, questions and visions of sustainability, using an appropriate content management system; - creating a multi-dimensional European industry and user's network stimulating awareness of a sustainable built environment and the industrial process that delivers it; - providing a web of contacts between users, clients and the industry across the EU which can be used to research user awareness and expectations for a sustainable environment, improve client understanding and industry competitiveness. During the 19 months of ENABLE, the ECTP produced an impressive set of results and performed several dissemination / promotion actions. The SRA represented the corner stone of the ECTP activities. This document represented the way to reach the 2030 objectives as they were defined in the Vision document. The wide range of activities and impact of the construction sector on all aspects of European society was reflected in this SRA. In parallel with the three main criteria for sustainability - society, environment and economy - the objectives were classified as follows: - Meeting clients / user requirements: providing a healthy and comfortable habitat for all, promoting a new image of European cities, developing underground transport to free surface space, developing mobility and supply through efficient networks. - Becoming sustainable: reducing resources consumption (energy, materials, water), reducing the environmental impact of human activities, maintaining efficient transport and utility networks, enhancing our cultural heritage, improving safety and security. - Transforming the construction sector: developing a knowledge-based, client driven construction process, supported by ICT, automation, high added value construction materials and making construction workplaces attractive. The work that was performed during the project was divided into the following work packages: Work package 1: NTPs' coordination and workshop activities This first work package dealt with the coordination of the NTPs and the workshop activities. Its objectives were: - to collaborate with NTPs in different European countries and to assist them in sharing with each other ideas and exchange information relating to European issues; - to set up facilitated workshops with NTPs / user groups; - to identify drivers for change, technologies and awareness of sustainability issues amongst clients, industry and communities concerned with the built environment; - to collect ideas and visions from the NTPs; and - to implement and encourage the use of the network database system by the NTP groups in order to share information, ideas and visions. Work package 2: NTPs' input analysis and awareness This second work package dealt, on one side, with the analysis of the input coming from the NTPs and, on the other side, with the activities aiming at the awareness of the stakeholders towards a sustainable built environment. Its objectives were: - to analyse the inputs of NTPs / user groups in the different countries; - to conduct an analysis of the NTPs / user groups through compiling and collating information as appropriate; - to report on the diversity and characteristics of the NTPs / user groups in the different countries; and - to map priorities and programmes of NTPs and ECTP. Work package 3: ECTP activities and secretariat This third work package dealt with the ECTP general activities including the secretariat works. Its objectives were: - to gather, analyse, organise, synthesise inputs from various thematic groups that will contribute towards the ECTP Vision 2030, SRAs and road maps for the construction sector in Europe; - to coordinate the activities with other projects and interface with strategic initiatives, platforms, networks and Member States (as appropriate); - to disseminate the work, and in particular to disseminate the visions and research priorities; and - to develop, update, maintain a website for communication and dissemination purposes. Related documents Final Report - ENABLE (Raising European Awareness of a Sustainable Built Environment)
