Horizon Europe program for digital transition, circular management, and upgrading of the built environment
The Technical University of Crete is participating as a research partner in the European project INTEGRATES – Intelligent Digital Tools for Green Renovation, Assessment, Transformation, Efficiency and Sustainability, which is funded by the Horizon Europe program.
The project aims to develop innovative digital tools based on building information modelling (BIM) and digital twins, contributing to the sustainable and circular retrofitting of buildings and improving energy efficiency. Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning methods, the project automates data analysis, predicts energy behaviour, optimises design, and enhances user interaction with the digital tools.
An integrated digital platform will be developed as part of the project, combining the design, construction, operation, and demolition phases, along with the management of the building's life cycle. This platform will provide a unified environment for data management and informed decision-making, promoting greater sustainability in the construction sector.
By integrating these technologies, INTEGRATES aims to optimise energy efficiency, reduce the carbon footprint, and promote a circular approach to the management of the built environment, with an emphasis on material reuse and sustainable resource utilisation throughout the life cycle of buildings.
EURAC Research coordinates the project in Italy and involves 18 partners from 9 European countries, including the Technical University of Crete, through the Laboratory of Built Environment and Energy Management of the School of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering, with Professor Dionysia Kolokotsa as Project Leader. The team also includes Assistant Professor Nikos Diangelakis and researchers Dr Katerina Lilli, Dr Elisavet Tsekeri, Filippos Ligerakis, and Thanasis Malisovas. The Technical University of Crete plays a decisive role in the development of Knowledge Graphs and machine learning methods for building data management and analysis, enhancing the transparency and reliability of Artificial Intelligence.
The INTEGRATES innovations will be implemented in four pilot cities: Bolzano (Italy), Genk (Belgium), Sofia (Bulgaria), and Madrid (Spain), which represent different climate zones with diverse local social characteristics, allowing the solutions to be evaluated in real-world conditions.
The project's kick-off meeting will take place on November 5 and 6, 2025, in Bolzano, Italy, marking the start of an important European collaboration for sustainable and digital transition.
