Luxembourg leading the agenda in sustainable urban development at Sustainable Places 2024

The Sustainable Places 2024 Conference, held on 24 and 25 September in Luxembourg, featured a dedicated session highlighting the country’s prominent role in advancing the built environment sector. 

Organized by the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Luxinnovation, and NeoBuild, the Luxembourg dedicated session brought together key stakeholders to showcase innovative activities, and pioneering construction projects driving the transformation of the sector in Luxembourg. 

Empowering Luxembourg’s built environment sector 

This session underscored the opportunities for Luxembourg stakeholders to benefit from European funding, fostering research and innovation that align with EU policies such as the recast of the European Directive on Building Performance (EPBD), Fit for 55, and the New European Bauhaus. Testimonials from active research participants and pitches from innovative stakeholders illustrated the potential for expanded involvement in European initiatives. In particular, the Horizon Europe-funded research program, REGENeration of Neighbourhoods Towards a Low-Carbon, Inclusive, and Affordable Built Environment (REGEN), coordinated by LIST, allocates 2.6 million euros to Luxembourg partners. Launched earlier this year in Beckerich, REGEN aims to catalyze a paradigm shift in urban development, promoting sustainability, economic revitalization, and social inclusion. 

Sylvain Kubicki, Lead Research and Innovation Associate at LIST, stated: 

"LIST is committed to making the most of Luxembourg's expertise and value chains to drive sustainable urban regeneration. Through REGEN, we aim to empower communities, inform policy orientations, and pave the way for broader deployment of sustainable urban interventions.  What's more, our role is to interweave Luxembourg's skills, expertise and ambitious policies with European political challenges and guidelines. Sustainable Places is a greatforum to showcase this." 

Advancing digital innovation in urban regeneration 

Throughout the whole conference programme, contributions from LIST highlighted the advancements in digital innovation, including the development of a Digital Deconstruction Platform to support the circular deconstruction practices, or the LIST’s technologies to build digital twins. Artificial Intelligence (AI) was highlighted as a transformative force within the industry.  

Sylvain Kubicki said: 

“AI is already a game changer in the development of new services that enable and take full power of Digital Twins, which are already revolutionizing how construction projects are designed, monitored, and managed, driving performance efficiency and optimizing resource use.” 

However, the adoption of AI and other advanced technologies is not without its challenges. The ethical implications of AI, particularly in ensuring data privacy, transparency, and accountability, remain critical considerations as the industry continues to evolve. 

Representatives from Luxinnovation and NeoBuild provided further insights into Luxembourg’s strategic focus on sustainable construction, emphasizing the importance of cross-sectoral partnerships and knowledge exchange in achieving the country’s ambitious environmental goals. 

With its robust research landscape, strong political support, and commitment to innovation, Luxembourg continues to position itself as a key player in the European built environment sector, contributing to research and innovation towards a more sustainable and resilient future.