Review: Meet & Match Workshop as part of the Bioeconomy in Construction Forum
As part of the Forum Bioeconomy in Construction, a TransBIB Meet & Match workshop entitled "From demand to alliance - cooperation for pilot projects" took place on 2 October 2025 and was moderated by Hartmut Welck (Fraunhofer ISI). The aim of the workshop was to further develop specific needs in the field of bio-based construction and to identify new starting points for cooperation. This was based on profiles of the participants, which were created in advance on the basis of a survey. These contained information on the participants' individual needs, offers and project ideas.
Central results of the workshop
The dialogue made it clear that there is a strong will in the industry to use bio-based alternatives in construction. However, implementation is hampered by various structural and organisational hurdles.
Lack of visibility and expertise: It was emphasised several times that it is difficult to find suitable partners with the relevant expertise. Although there are initial information platforms that pool knowledge and contacts, these have so far been mostly regionally limited and little known. At this point, we expressly recommend the platform and network of natureplus, which is recognised as a competent and well-connected contact in the field of sustainable building
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Regulatory and organisational barriers: Despite numerous existing technical solutions, practical implementation is often difficult. One frequently cited example was the regulatory complexity of rezoning spaces, which can delay or prevent bio-based construction projects
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Economic prospects: Several participants emphasised that bio-based applications are often more cost-effective in the long term. However, this information is still little known among potential users, which inhibits the spread of such solutions.
Innovative approaches: The suggestion to think more radically when it comes to bio-based construction was particularly inspiring. New materials alone are not enough; the entire utilisation concept needs to be rethought. One example was the idea of multifunctional rooms that can be flexibly enlarged or reduced in size and thus utilise resources and space more efficiently.
Networking and cooperation: Initial networking already took place during the workshop. Participants exchanged numerous contact details and discussed specific points of contact for future cooperation.
Conclusion and outlook
The workshop showed that there is great interest in the implementation of bio-based solutions in construction. At the same time, it became clear that the need for structured exchange formats, information platforms and legal guidance remains high. The contacts and ideas generated at the workshop will now be used to initiate the first pilot projects and promote new collaborations.
With the Meet & Match workshop, the Bioeconomy in Construction Forum made an important contribution to networking the relevant players and emphasised how crucial interdisciplinary exchange is for progress in the bio-based construction sector.