Digital permits and compliance checks for buildings and infrastructure (IA)

Closed

Programme Category

EU Competitive Programmes

Programme Name

Horizon Europe (2021-2027)

Programme Description

Horizon Europe is the European Union (EU) funding programme for the period 2021 – 2027, which targets the sectors of research and innovation. The programme’s budget is around € 95.5 billion, of which € 5.4 billion is from NextGenerationEU to stimulate recovery and strengthen the EU’s resilience in the future, and € 4.5 billion is additional aid.

Programme Details

Identifier Code

HORIZON-CL4-2021-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-10

Call

Digital permits and compliance checks for buildings and infrastructure (IA)

Summary

There is a need to develop, connect and align new technologies and digital tools for construction, including improved and automated methods of designing, building and authorising construction works. Information generated or imported into digital models during early design phases can potentially streamline the application and granting of digital administrative permits. This will in turn facilitate informed decision making including compliance checks later in the design and construction process and throughout the life cycle of the built asset.

Detailed Call Description

Proposals should:

  • Develop and demonstrate novel ways of digitalising permitting and compliance processes for construction works;
  • Demonstrate new tools and solutions for the storing, processing, analysis and retrieval of administrative and regulatory information related to construction works; and facilitate stakeholders to consult the current status of the process at all times.
  • Ensure that the new solutions are interoperable and integrated, where relevant, with other relevant tools, databases and processes.  Proposals should ensure that spatial information, where relevant, aligns with the aims of the INSPIRE Directive.
  • Ensure that the new solutions developed can handle a wide variety of relevant data, for example spatial and location data relating to the buildings or infrastructure and their context; urban height limits and setbacks; visual corridors or protected views; environmental information such as flood risk models and protected trees; cultural heritage rules and protections; utilities and services including energy, water and telecoms infrastructure;
  • Develop solutions that harness the potential of digitalisation to accelerate processes and improve productivity, open up new methods of working and business models.
  • Address potential barriers to the use of digital building permits and compliance checks including knowledge gaps, technology deployment, standards, and the regulatory and policy context;
  • Take into account the wide range of actors involved in applying for, receiving and using permits and the related compliance (e.g. design, engineering and other construction professionals, researchers, industry especially SMEs, and public authorities).
  • Proposals should build on previous research, such as the outputs of the DigiPLACE project.
  • Address the potential for upskilling and re-skilling of the construction value chain as a result of the innovation.
  • Contribute to an EU-wide framework for the digitalisation and automation of machine readable permits and compliance checks for construction works, including by collaborating with similar projects including those funded under this call;
  • Develop technical guidelines and semantic models applicable to different EU countries.

Proposals should provide contributions to relevant standards and seek to ensure synergies with the Horizon Europe ‘Built4People’ co-programmed Partnership. 

Call Total Budget

€15,00 million

Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan

70%

Contribution per project: €5,00 million

Thematic Categories

  • Information Technology
  • Research, Technological Development and Innovation

Eligibility for Participation

  • Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions

Call Opening Date

22/06/2021

Call Closing Date

23/09/2021

National Contact Point(s)

Research and Innovation Foundation

Strovolos Avenue 123, 2042 Nicosia, Cyprus, P.O.Box 23422, 1683 Nicosia
Email: support@research.org.cy
Website: https://www.research.org.cy/

Dr Angelos Ntantos
Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205033
Email: antantos@research.org.cy

Dr Ioannis Theodorou

Scientific Officer
Telephone: 35722205038
Email: itheodorou@research.org.cy

(Publish Date: 19/08/2021-for internal use only)