Home » about Financing Networks

Extranet Login

Extranet Login

Forgot your password?

Partner Search Tool

Partner Search Tool for the new phase of Europe INNOVA and PRO INNO Europe®

Publications

Publications

BUILD-NOVA

Print

'BUILDing inNOVAtion in the European Construction Sector'

The size of the European construction sector and the long life of its products (structures) results in strong, multifaceted, social and economic effects within member state countries. The sector will face major technological and economic challenges if the EU is to achieve economic growth and high quality living standards. More innovation is needed in this traditional sector, with more participation from small enterprises, even low and medium tech firms.

Innovation is an expensive process. Significant resources are needed to initiate, direct and sustain it. Lack of venture capital is one example of the financial barriers to start-up creation and radical innovation. Other barriers include difficulties related to time and the costs associated with properly evaluating new technology and its commercial potential.

Given the economic importance of the construction sector, enhancing the effectiveness and proliferation of innovation must be a major priority for Europe. It is the primary focus of the BUILD-NOVA consortium. By linking the financial aspects of innovation BUILD-NOVA aims to become customer-driven, sustainable, competitive, responsible, knowledge-based, and ultimately, a vital contributor to the quality of life of European citizens.

The overarching goal of the BUILD-NOVA project is to:
Help construction firms (high-tech and less technology intensive companies) to find suitable funding for their new innovative projects, and give investors a better understanding of the technology and market possibilities of such new ideas.

BUILD-NOVA has four main objectives:
  • To create a network of agents from 3 groups: construction-based customer-facilitators and promoters, technology providers, and the finance sector.
  • Through a sector-specific approach, toanalyse the success factors and barriers to innovation in the European construction sector, produce guidelines for small construction firms on development of new innovative business ideas and products.
  • To organise business forums across Europe involving a range of different agents interested in the financing of innovation in the construction sector.
  • To share knowledge and best practice with other networks and projects.