These activities highlighted the importance of practical innovation, interdisciplinary learning, and collaboration in accelerating the transition toward circular and digitalised construction.
Innovation Cafés: Showcasing Circular and Digital Solutions
As part of the ReBuilt initiative, a series of Innovation Café (iCafe) online workshops were organised in March 2025 under the title Innovative Circular and Digital Solutions for Construction in Central Europe. These sessions provided a platform for presenting cutting-edge innovations, technologies, and practical approaches that support sustainability and circularity in construction.
The workshops brought together industry professionals, researchers, decision-makers, and innovators from across Europe to explore solutions with strong market potential and environmental impact.
Highlighted innovations included:
- Digital materials management solutions for improving circularity in the building sector.
- Concrete made from recycled brick and mixed aggregates.
- Smart low-carbon construction using recycled raw materials.
- Circular economy approaches in real estate development.
- Fire-resistant hemp-based insulation materials.
- Concrete additives replacing natural aggregates with shredded waste.
- Recycled insulation boards from waste materials.
- Software tools for concrete plants to optimise efficiency.
- Hempcrete noise barriers for infrastructure projects.
- Mineral waste transformed into alkali-activated pavements.
These workshops aimed to encourage innovation, improve market penetration of sustainable technologies, and support collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.
Circathon: Turning Circular Ideas into Business Solutions
One of the most engaging activities within the ReBuilt project was the Circathon – The Circular Economy Challenge, organised as an online innovation competition in 2025.
The Circathon invited students, graduates, and interdisciplinary teams to solve real-world circular economy challenges connected to construction, sustainability, and digital transformation.
Two major challenge themes were introduced:
- Can You Transform Circular Dreams into Real-World Realities?
Participants were challenged to design an innovative business model for a Circular Construction Centre in Maribor, focusing on sustainable construction, waste reduction, resource efficiency, and local economic development. - Modification of CinderOSS & Circular Business Innovation Challenge
Participants explored how digital tools and business thinking could transform circular construction concepts into scalable market solutions.
The competition encouraged teamwork, entrepreneurship, and problem-solving, while also strengthening participants’ practical understanding of circular economy applications in construction. With cash prizes, networking opportunities, and real-world case studies, Circathon served as both an educational and innovation-driven initiative.
Circularity in Construction: Expert Lecture Series
To further support capacity building and education, ReBuilt organised a dedicated online lecture series titled Circularity in Construction, held between April and May 2025.
This expert-led programme featured specialists from universities, research institutes, and industry across Europe and beyond. The lectures addressed key scientific, technical, and regulatory topics related to circular and sustainable construction.
The lecture series covered five major themes:
- Legislation and Regulatory Framework
Exploring legal structures, governance, and policy frameworks supporting circular construction practices. - Novel Research Approaches towards Circular and Digital Practices
Presenting innovative research methods and digital tools that improve sustainability, traceability, and efficiency in construction. - Towards Low Carbon Technologies in Construction
Focusing on materials, methods, and technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions in the built environment. - Geopolymers and Secondary Raw Materials
Addressing advanced materials, alternative binders, corrosion measurement in steel, and reuse of secondary resources. - Circular and Digital Construction in Application
Showcasing real-life implementation of circular and digital solutions within construction projects and industrial practice.
The lecture series created a valuable educational environment where participants could directly engage with experts, gain practical insights, and better understand the future challenges and opportunities of sustainable construction.
Building a Stronger Circular Construction Ecosystem
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how the ReBuilt project goes beyond research by actively connecting education, innovation, entrepreneurship, and practical implementation.
Through Innovation Cafés, Circathon competitions, and expert lecture series, ReBuilt strengthened cooperation among students, researchers, businesses, policymakers, and technical experts. These activities promoted not only knowledge exchange but also real collaboration and the development of scalable circular and digital solutions for the construction sector.
Looking Ahead
The transition toward circular and digital construction requires more than technological advancement—it requires skills, creativity, collaboration, and strong regional partnerships.
By organising innovation workshops, expert-led lectures, and practical challenges, the ReBuilt project continues to create a strong foundation for a more resilient, sustainable, and digitally advanced construction ecosystem in Central Europe.
With each new initiative, ReBuilt is helping shape a future where circular economy principles become an integral part of construction practices, business development, and education.