The Final Event of the SUSTAIN project took place at Casa de la Llum, Simon’s headquarters in Barcelona on 3/7/2025, bringing together key stakeholders, European institutions, SMEs, and innovation experts to showcase results and explore the future of smart and sustainable buildings in Europe.

Organised in a hybrid format, the event marks a key milestone in the project’s mission to foster collaboration across the construction, energy, and digital sectors through the adoption of Smart Readiness Indicators (SRIs) and support for innovative solutions from European SMEs.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by the host organisations, the Catalan Energy Cluster and Simon. First, Alba Rosado, representing SIMON, held the welcome session. Then, representing the Catalan Energy Cluster director, Francesc Ribera underlined the importance of the project in driving sustainable innovation in the built environment:“I would like to highlight the impact of the solutions developed through the experiments of the two Open Calls of the SUSTAIN Eurocluster, which will contribute to the new era of building construction that we are now entering,” stated Ribera.

The session continued with a keynote address by the Project Officer at the European Commission, Zita Zsoldos, who presented the Eurocluster programme and the future support mechanisms for SMEs in the green and digital transition. “Thank you to all SMEs involved in the project for their contribution to the green transition and the digital economy, and for the training you provided,” said Zsoldos.
“When we look back, we realise this was a great initiative. Within the framework of the Single Market Strategy, we are working on increasing support for small and medium-sized companies and making the benefits of the Single Market more tangible to all EU countries.”

Following this, the Project Coordinator from CERTH, Nikos Laloumis, presented the key outcomes of the SUSTAIN project during the session “SUSTAIN in Focus – Results and Impact”:

During the session, he introduced the main outcomes achieved throughout the project. A total of 31 SMEs received funding to develop 27 innovation projects through two Open Calls. More than 20 training sessions were delivered to cluster managers, SME employees, and other stakeholders, aiming to strengthen skills and foster capacity building within the ecosystem.

To enhance collaboration, five dedicated networking events were organised, connecting SMEs with European clusters and innovation hubs. Through these combined efforts, the project reached approximately 400 companies and supported over 700 professionals with training and advisory services.

Another key milestone was the launch of the SUSTAIN Digital Collaboration Platform, an online space offering access to training resources, a marketplace, and networking tools for SMEs and stakeholders.

International outreach was also a core component of the project. Around 10 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed with clusters and SMEs from third countries, including a notable agreement with the Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster for Research & Innovation (ERECRI). Additional MoUs were facilitated between companies from Latvia, Norway, Nepal, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, further extending the project’s global impact.

Participants then had the opportunity to explore the Simon HQ rehabilitation project, guided by Patricia Abrudan from JG Ingenieros, who presented the integrated energy efficiency measures and digital renovation strategies implemented on-site.

In the afternoon, the event spotlighted the entrepreneurs and innovators supported through SUSTAIN’s Open Calls. More than 25 SMEs and startups presented their solutions during two pitch sessions, showcasing cutting-edge technologies in artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, BIM, extended reality, and smart energy management.

The day concludes with reflections on ensuring the continuity of the SUSTAIN community and building upon the project’s legacy, paving the way for new partnerships, international collaborations, and long-term impact in Europe’s sustainable construction ecosystem.

https://www.sustaineurocluster.com/sustain-final-event-showcases-a-new-…