Hubs
The Circular and Digital Construction Hubs initiative is creating a robust innovation ecosystem to accelerate the sustainable transformation of the construction sector in Central Europe.
The Central Hub, based at the Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) in Slovenia, coordinates a network of eight national and regional hubs in Croatia, Italy, Czechia, Hungary, Austria, Poland, Germany, and Slovakia. Together, these hubs promote circular practices, digital solutions, knowledge exchange and promote green and secondary raw materials in circular and digital construction to reduce resource consumption, lower emissions, and strengthen regional economies.
Each hub develops expertise in a specific field—ranging from smart material tracking and digital product passports to the valorisation of secondary raw materials and sustainable construction methods. This specialisation ensures strong local impact while fostering cross-border collaboration.
Through their combined expertise, governance, and innovation capacity, the hubs are evolving into “Hubs of New Ecosystem” that support the EU’s circular economy goals and drive systemic change in the construction industry.
Objectives and Strategic Role of the Hubs
The Central and Regional Hubs are designed to establish an interconnected support system, accelerating the shift toward circular and digital construction across Central Europe.
Core Objectives
Strategic Alignment
The hubs align closely with major European initiatives, including:
By integrating these objectives and frameworks, the Circular and Digital Construction Hubs act as catalysts for regional transformation, positioning Central Europe as a frontrunner in Europe’s green, circular, and digital transition—within the construction sector and beyond.
The Central Construction and Digital Hub (Slovenia)
The Central Circular Construction Innovation Hub, based in Slovenia, at the Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) serves as the core coordination and strategic leadership body for the transnational network of Circular Construction Hubs. Its main role is to ensure consistency, quality, and synergy across regional activities while supporting each hub’s development according to its thematic specialisation.
The Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG)
The ZAG is an internationally recognised organisation in the field of construction in Slovenia. The ZAG's research is focused on the development of new materials and technologies that are internationally relevant and help to ensure the sustainable development of Slovenia. By participating in international projects in various fields of construction, we strengthen contacts and exchange knowledge with top research groups worldwide.
The role and responsibilities include:
Coordination with Regional Hubs
The ZAG, the central hub as a coordinator, enables structured cooperation between the eight regional/national hubs. This includes:
Coordination is based on a collaborative governance approach, with regular input and feedback loops between all hub representatives. Contact of each regional hub:
Governance of the Central hubs
Thematic Working Groups ensuring focused collaboration across hubs.
To ensure long-term sustainability, the Central Hub will:
To establish partnerships with European networks and initiatives (EIT RawMaterials, New European Bauhaus)
Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanisms
The central hub ZAG will implement a monitoring and evaluation system, based on qualitative and quantitative indicators. Key features include:
This governance and monitoring framework will underpin the credibility, effectiveness, and replicability of the Central and Regional Circular Construction Hubs in Interreg Central Europe and in across Europe in a sustainable direction.
Regional/National Hubs
The eight Regional/national circular and digital construction hubs form the backbone of the transnational network coordinated by the central hub ZAG in Slovenia. Each regional hub is embedded within its national or regional innovation ecosystem and focuses on driving context-specific transformation in the construction sector toward circularity and digitalization.
All regional hubs will incorporate a set of cross-cutting enablers that support effective implementation and collaboration:
Each hub, while maintaining this shared structure, will specialise in a specific thematic area based on its knowledge and experiences. This ensures both harmonisation and diversity across the hub network, enabling innovation at multiple levels.
Regional specialisation of the hubs
The Croatian hub focuses on developing and promotion of legal and regulatory frameworks that support circular practices in construction in Central Europe. Given the complexity of existing construction legislation and the lack of circular-specific regulations, this hub works to harmonise policy frameworks, identify legal barriers, and co-create recommendations for effective policy implementation. It engages public authorities, experts and the construction sector to accelerate legislative recommendation reform.
Activities:
Responsible partner:
The company Projects of Sustainable Development (POR)
POR, standing for Projekti Održivog Razvoja – Projects of Sustainable Development, is primarily involved in environmental projects with emphasis on sustainable urban redevelopment, circular and collaborative economy subject areas. These approaches entail cross-sector integration strategies and projects with their implementation into the public and private sectors.
Contact
Contact person: Tadej Žurman
Email: info@por.com.hr
Phone: 00386 31 309 070
Italy’s hub leverages the strong digital innovation ecosystem to support the development and adoption of digital tools for circular construction, such as digital passports, digital platform CinderoSS and connection with Gaia X platform (together with ReBuilt partner IIC, Slovakia). It aims to improve decision-making, design efficiency, and circular and digital management through data-driven solutions and collaboration with tech companies and research institutions.
Activities:
Responsible partners:
Infordata Sistemi (Infordata)
Infordata Sistemi is one of the leading companies in Italy and Europe in providing comprehensive solutions for business digital transformation and offering expertise in the field of ICT. They deliver complex solutions that require a broad range of skills and are adaptable to market needs.
Contact
Contact person: Marko Petelin
Email: marko.petelin@infordata.it
Phone: +39 335 838 0888
Opencontent
Opencontent is an Italian company operating in the field of digitalisation for the technological transformation of the public sector, primarily targeting municipalities and local authorities. They utilize open-source software designed in accordance with guidelines for the development of digital public services in the cloud.
Contact
Contact person: Ronald Chenu Abente
Email: info@opencontent.it
Phone: (+39) 0461 917437
The Czech hub specialises in advancing circular design principles, a new Bauhaus, emphasising architectural innovation, modularity, and adaptability. It supports the development of circular design and guidelines for architects and engineers, helping integrate circularity early in project lifecycles. The hub also promotes collaborative planning processes.
Activities:
Responsible partner:
Czech Green Building Council (CZ GBC)
The Czech Green Building Council (CZGBC) brings together companies from various sectors of the economy. Their common interest is high-quality buildings that support new construction and renovation based on sustainability principles. They drive the market to rethink how buildings and urban areas are designed, constructed, maintained, and operated, promoting sustainable and socially responsible urban environments that enhance quality of life.
Contact
Contact person: Marie Koflák
Email: marie.koflak@czgbc.org
Phone: +420 775 577 495
Hungary’s hub focuses on the policy of innovation, acting as a bridge between circular economy goals and practical implementation in the built environment. The hub leads policy activities, multi-stakeholder consultations, and advocacy for incentive mechanisms. It aims to build policy capacity and promote cross-sector collaboration to inform national and regional strategies. They will make the network between the industry, architects and investors for circular and digital construction.
Activities:
Responsible partners:
Vas County (VVÖH)
The Vas County Government Office coordinates regional development, spatial planning, economic growth, and infrastructure at the county level. It also manages international relations and fosters partnerships across business, cultural, and civic sectors, supporting sustainable development and regional collaboration.
Contact
Contact person: Krisztina Rimányi
Email: rimanyi.krisztina@vasmegye.hu
Phone: +36 30 277 5703
BURST
Functioning in the field of sustainable changes in urban environments, where intensive cooperation with local communities is crucial. Social and sustainable interactions among stakeholders are important here, as they can contribute to more responsible living, social connectivity, and productive information exchange.
Contact
Contact person: Eszter Fodor-Kun
Email: eszter.kun@burstgroup.eu
Phone: + 36 20 283 8579
Austria brings strong knowledge and expertise in sustainability education and training. Its hub will concentrate on developing and disseminating educational content, training programs, and curricula for professionals, students, and workers across the construction value chain. It will collaborate with universities, vocational schools, and other relevant stakeholders to build a skilled workforce for circular construction
Responsible partner:
TU Wien
The TU Wien is Austria's largest research and educational institution in the field of technology and natural sciences. It is renowned for its research excellence, innovation, and strong collaboration with industry, preparing students to tackle complex technical and societal challenges. The university offers a wide range of programs, from undergraduate to doctoral studies, fostering interdisciplinary learning. TU Wien also actively engages in international research networks, contributing to global technological and scientific advancements.
Activities:
Contact
Contact person: Dipl.-Ing. Lukas Hausner
Email: lukas.hausner@tuwien.ac.at
Phone: +43 1 58801 207221
The Polish hub addresses a key challenge: limited market demand for circular construction products and services. It will work on stimulating demand through awareness campaigns, public procurement strategies, and buyer engagement. The hub will support business models that respond to user needs and explore incentives for clients adopting circular approaches.
The Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas (IETU) is a research and development unit under the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment. It addresses environmental challenges in industrial and urban areas, focusing on the circular economy, resource efficiency, and climate change adaptation and mitigation. IETU develops solutions that balance environmental protection with economic growth, aiming to improve public well-being and to drive sustainable resource management through R&D and the implementation of innovative practices at local, regional, and European levels.
Activities:
Contact
Contact person: Marek Matejczyk
Email: lch_pl@ietu.pl
Phone:
Germany’s hub will focus on research and development of innovative circular construction materials, such as bio-based composites, recycled aggregates, and recycled and secondary raw materials. With its strong research base and collaboration with the industry, the hub will support the material performance, standardisation, and foster industry uptake of next-generation circular construction materials.
Responsible partner:
Hochschule München / Munich University of Applied Sciences
Hochschule München (HM) is one of Germany’s largest and most diverse universities of applied sciences. With a strong focus on applied research, innovation, and close collaboration with industry, it offers a broad portfolio in engineering, economics, social sciences, and design. The university is active at regional, national, and European levels, shaping solutions for the future and preparing students for real-world impact.
Contact
Contact person: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andrea Kustermann
Email: andrea.kustermann@hm.edu
Phone:
Slovakia’s hub will promote industrial symbiosis, encouraging resource and waste exchange between construction companies and other sectors (e.g., manufacturing, demolition). It will develop the ecosystems for material reuse, recycling, and secondary raw materials, facilitate matchmaking between stakeholders, and demonstrate the economic and environmental value of symbiotic collaboration.
Responsible partner:
Industry Innovation Cluster (IIC)
IIC is a collaborative network of companies, research institutions, and public organisations driving innovation and digital transformation in Slovakia and Europe. Its mission is to accelerate technology adoption, support sustainable growth, and boost SME competitiveness. By fostering partnerships, sharing knowledge, and providing access to expertise, technology, and funding, IIC supports embracing Industry 4.0 and building a smarter, greener, and more resilient industrial future.
Activites:
Contact
Contact person: Martina Le Gall Maláková
Email: malakova@industryinnovationcluster.sk
Phone: +421 903 610 261
Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG), as a coordinator of the Slovenian hub and regional hubs, focuses on the coordination and simultaneous development of circular business models and value chains as well as legal frameworks that support circular and digital development and practices in the construction sector. It engages stakeholders of the quadruple helix models (state, public authorities, industry, SMEs and other interested stakeholders to accelerate recommendations for the circular and digital construction sector in Central Europe.
Activities:
Responsible partners:
Slovenian Building and Civil Engineering Institute as a coordinator for Slovenia and for the regional hubs.
Contact
Contact person: Dr Alenka Mauko Pranjić, Dr Dragica Marinič
Email: ReBuilt@zag.si; alenka.mauko@zag.si; dragica.marinic@zag.si
Phone: +386 1 2804 25
The company Javno podjetje Nigrad, d. o. o.
The company Javno podjetje Nigrad, d. o. o., performs municipal activities organised as public economic services for the needs of local communities, companies, institutions and individual clients. It operates in north-eastern Slovenia, primarily in the wider area of the city of Maribor in Slovenia. Nigrad manages a centre for the reuse of construction waste in the municipality of Maribor.
Contact
Contact person:
Email:
Phone:
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Štajerska (SGZ) in Maribor, is an independent regional chamber in Maribor and they represent the interests of economic operators throughout the entire region, to exert greater influence on management, and promote the growth and development of businesses regionally, across the state, and internationally.
Contact
Contact person: Nika Djordjevič
Email: nika.djordjevic@stajerskagz.si
Phone: +386 30 343 868