Exploit4InnoMat

EXPLOIT4INNOMAT – AN OPEN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM FOR EXPLOITATION OF MATERIALS FOR BUILDING ENVELOPES TOWARDS ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS

The building sector is responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO₂ emissions in the European Union. For this reason, the European Commission has set itself the goal of promoting near-zero energy buildings (nZEB). Exploit4InnoMat forms a network for building envelopes, including roofs and façades, to be built more responsibly for the future. This applies to new buildings as well as to the renovation of existing buildings. The project aims to provide a sustainable solution for the development, up-scaling and validation of new materials across Europe.

The consortium of the University of Stuttgart comprising ILEK, MPA and IMB will investigate the production of multifunctional and lightweight concrete structures. They will further develop the robotic casting system for the production of Functionally Graded Concrete (FGC) components and develop a process for the 3D printing of bio-concrete, based on microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Designed to meet structural and building physics requirements, the focus is on lightweight concrete structures and exterior façade cladding for the building envelope. Investigations include research into the thermal insulation and thermal damping properties of mono-material FGC building envelopes. The integration of multiple functions in FGC components will be achieved through a combination with building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) and solar thermal systems. The research results will be tested in laboratory-scale specimens to assess material properties and finally in full-scale demonstrators to validate the concept of system lightweight design.

In addition, MPA offers comprehensive test and examination facilities to support the market approval (CE marking or project-related approval and project-related approval) of the components produced in the pilot production.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR & PARTICIPATING RESEARCHERS

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Lucio Blandini
Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK), University of Stuttgart
Dr. Jürgen Frick
Materials Testing Institute (MPA), University of Stuttgart
apl. Prof. Dr. Andreas Stolz
Institute of Microbiology (IMB), University of Stuttgart

RESEARCHERS

Carl Niklas Haufe (ILEK)
Christoph Nething (ILEK)
Dr. Walter Haase (ILEK)
Dr. Manuela Reichert (MPA)
Dr. Andreas Huß (MPA)
Erik Eppinger (IMB)

PARTNERS

Coordinator: Christos Roupas, Uni Systems Systimata Pliroforikis Monoprosopi Anonymi Emporiki Etairia (UNIS), Greece

27 partners from 11 European countries from research and industry
Exploit4InnoMat

FUNDING

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101092339.