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Metabuilding Labs
METAclustered, SME oriented European Innovation Test Bed for the BUILDING envelope materials industrial sector using a harmonized and upgraded technical framework and living LABS
METABUILDING supports the EU’s COP21 goals by enabling SMEs in the construction sector to test innovative building envelope solutions across a network of facilities and Living Labs in 13 European countries. This approach ensures valuable end-user feedback during development.
Built on five pillars—SME outreach through metaclustering and an Open Innovation Platform; a brokerage business model for testing services; a harmonized testing framework; an open-access Building Envelope Testbench; and streamlined Living Lab access—METABUILDING creates a collaborative ecosystem to accelerate energy-efficient building innovation.
This integrated network helps SMEs develop, validate, and bring to market solutions that contribute to nearly-zero energy and zero-emission buildings.
MBLabs aims to simplify and reduce the costs of testing and certifying building envelope technologies developed by European SMEs. By creating a marketplace connecting SMEs with laboratory testing facilities and certification partners, it increases facility utilization and shortens the time for innovations to reach construction and retrofitting markets.
Key objectives include:
- Socio-economic & Environmental: Boost SME competitiveness and internationalization, integrate end-users and environmental concerns into innovation pathways, and support the construction sector’s recovery post-COVID19.
- Sectoral & Replication: Build a sustainable, inclusive European innovation ecosystem for the built environment, stimulate investment through reliable testing, and enhance the construction sector’s role in sustainable development by removing barriers and upskilling workforce.
- Scientific & Technical: Implement meta-clustering across 13 countries to bring SMEs into the ecosystem, harmonize lab testing facilities, and develop standardized, open-access testbeds and flexible, innovative solutions for energy-efficient buildings.
- Together, these aims foster faster, cost-effective innovation adoption and strengthen Europe’s construction industry competitiveness and sustainability.
R2M serves as the project’s exploitation manager, replication work package leader, and pilot manager.
- – Co-designs the METABUILDING ecosystem, including the Single-Entry Point and its business model.
- – Leads the set-up of the managing association for ecosystem operation after project completion.
- – Collaborates with CASA SpA to design and test building envelope solutions in a social housing Living Lab in Florence.
- – Will design, build, and manage the “Open Source Building Envelope Test Bench (O3BET)” in Italy.
- – Supports Italian SMEs by providing direct access to testing and certification of innovative envelope technologies.
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