EU project SircularTransforming the building sector into a circular and sustainable industry - Sircular project presented first results

On 27–28 May 2026, partners of the Horizon Europe project SIRCULAR gathered in Barcelona, Spain, for their 4th General Assembly. The meeting was hosted by the Catalonia Institute of Construction Technology (ITeC) and brought together the project consortium to review progress across all work packages and define the next steps towards advancing circular and low-carbon solutions in the construction sector.

Over the course of the two-day meeting, partners presented key achievements from ongoing and completed activities and discussed future priorities. Interactive sessions helped identify synergies between tasks and further strengthen collaboration across the project, reinforcing a shared approach to tackling the challenges of circularity and decarbonisation in the built environment.

As a partner in the SIRCULAR project, Steinbeis Europa Zentrum is responsible for leading communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities. This includes developing strategies and tools to increase the project's visibility, communicate its objectives and outcomes, and support the uptake and sustainable use of its results. Steinbeis Europa Zentrum also supports knowledge transfer and the management of intellectual property rights.

During the assembly, partners also reviewed progress at SIRCULAR’s demonstration sites in Spain and Estonia. In Spain, an innovative low-carbon precast insulated façade solution is being prepared for implementation, while in Estonia, prefabricated large-panel systems are being tested. These solutions are designed to offer high replication potential across Europe, contributing to improved energy efficiency, enhanced comfort for residents, and reduced environmental impact.

Beyond the technical programme, participants also explored practical examples of circular construction in an urban context. The consortium visited the exhibition “The City as a Resource” at the Centre Cultural La Farinera del Clot, curated by the Recursos Urbans team. The exhibition illustrated how materials from demolished buildings can be recovered and reintegrated into new construction processes, an approach closely aligned with SIRCULAR’s objectives. Partners also took part in a guided tour of Barcelona, designated UNESCO World Capital of Architecture for 2026, including a visit to the Palau de la Música Catalana.

The second day of the General Assembly focused on the development of SIRCULAR’s digital tools, including progress on the project’s marketplace. These discussions enabled partners to further refine the technical direction and agree on the next implementation steps.

As SIRCULAR enters its third year, the consortium remains committed to delivering innovative solutions that support a more sustainable and circular construction sector across Europe.

About SIRCULAR

SIRCULAR is a Horizon European project supported by the European Commission under grant agreement No 101147412. It is coordinated by RINA-C and combines the expertise of 22 partners from six European countries, including universities, SMEs, NGOs, and industries. During three-and-a-half years, SIRCULAR aims to transform the building sector into a circular and sustainable industry, aligned with the Built4People partnership principles. SIRCULAR tests and demonstrates innovative technologies and services across four regional clusters: initially in Estonia and Spain, followed by Germany and Greece. These clusters engage construction companies, housing companies, universities, and local administrative entities, focusing on buildings owned or occupied by vulnerable population groups, in line with the SIRCULAR just and affordable transition approach.

Project website: https://sircularproject.eu