The SUSTAIN Eurocluster Hosts a Networking Event to Drive Smart and Sustainable Building in Europe

Last week, the Latvian capital (Riga) was the venue for the SUSTAIN project’s second open call networking event. The Latvian capital welcomed leading professionals and companies to foster collaboration, showcase cutting-edge solutions, and discuss the future of smart and sustainable construction in Europe.

The main purpose of the event was to provide a platform for companies to present their solutions and products, highlight their potential impact on the SUSTAIN project, and facilitate meaningful exchanges among stakeholders in the smart building sector. The agenda combined expert panel discussions with dedicated pitching sessions.

Panel Discussions: Exploring Trends, Challenges, and the Future

During the first panel discussion “Industry Trends in Smart Buildings and Construction” the Speakers, AI-EnerDist, Constructionware, IISRI, SRI-GenAI, WeavAir, explored the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities shaping the smart building and construction industry. They discussed transformative technologies such as IoT, AI, and data analytics, and their role in creating smarter, more sustainable buildings. The discussion also addressed barriers to adoption, strategies for integrating smart technologies into traditional workflows, and the influence of consumer demand and regulatory pressures. Sustainability and efficiency were central themes, with panelists considering how smart building technologies can help achieve energy goals, as well as the risks associated with digitalisation, particularly in cybersecurity and data privacy.

In the second panel “Overcoming Challenges in Smart Building Innovation” speakers like Natures, SCAN2SRI, SIGMA – IoT, SRI Compass, SRI-TrainXR, focused on the practical challenges innovators face in developing and implementing smart building solutions. Key topics included overcoming barriers for startups and SMEs, scaling innovations from pilot to market, and the importance of collaboration between startups, established companies, and research institutions. The panel also examined regulatory challenges, funding and investment strategies, and ways to encourage user adoption of smart technologies. Ensuring solutions are user-friendly and meet the needs of both owners and occupants was highlighted as a critical success factor.

Finally, in the third discussion panel “The Future of SRI and Sustainable Construction”, SolGen, SMART TESLA, SRI Define, SRI-RIB, envisioned the future landscape of smart readiness and sustainable construction. Discussions centred on the evolution of the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), the role of smart buildings in achieving net-zero emissions, and the integration of smart technologies into sustainable construction practices. Panellists debated the importance of data in driving energy efficiency, the need for evolving policy frameworks, and anticipated regulatory changes. The global perspective was complemented by local insights, with a focus on long-term strategies to ensure competitiveness, resilience, and inclusivity in the sector.

Pitching Sessions: Showcasing Innovative Solutions

After the coffee break, different companies had the opportunity to present their products and solutions in dedicated pitching sessions. The following organisations showcased their innovations: AI-EnerDist, Constructionware, IISRI, Natures, SCAN2SRI, SIGMA – IoT, SMART TESLA, SolGen, SRI Compass, SRI Define, SRI-GenAI, SRI-RIB, SRI-TrainXR, PROMETHEUS and WeavAir.

Each company demonstrated how their solutions contribute to smarter, more energy-efficient, and sustainable buildings, highlighting their potential impact within the SUSTAIN project and beyond.

The SUSTAIN networking event in Riga reaffirmed the sector’s commitment to building a greener, smarter, and more resilient Europe, setting the stage for future progress in smart and sustainable construction.

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