On 17 February 2025, the MOBICCON-PRO consortium brought together industry leaders, representatives of the European institutions, policymakers and experts from both sides of the Atlantic for the conference “Building the Future: EU/US Perspectives on Innovations, Technology Deployment, Circular Construction and Sustainable Energy”. The event was held at the headquarters of the European Construction Industry Federation (FIEC) in Brussels and fostered high-level discussions on the prospects of integrating new industrial technologies, advancing circular solutions in the construction sector, and optimizing energy efficiency, with a special focus on the EU and US cooperation in these fields.
The conference was officially opened by Eva Maydell, Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Vice-Chair of the EU-US Delegation, who emphasized that in today’s rapidly evolving environment, marked by challenges and transformation, innovation and technology are not merely drivers of economic growth but also the key to a more competitive and efficient future. Emil Angelov, CEO of Glavbolgarstroy Holding, also welcomed the audience and highlighted the event’s role as a platform for knowledge sharing, best practices and forward-looking discussions. In his opening remarks, Domenico Campogrande, Director General of FIEC, pointed out the importance of industry-wide collaboration and innovative solutions to address the challenges of climate change and resource efficiency. The importance of the discussed topics was also underlined by Simeon Tsomokos, President of the Delphi Economic Forum and a member of the International Advisory Board of Glavbolgarstroy Holding.
The first panel session focused on discussions for the role of circularity in enhancing competitiveness, the need for stronger transatlantic partnerships to accelerate technology progress and the role of nuclear energy and renewables in achieving energy sustainability. The topics discussed are crucial for the future development of various industries, with the overarching goal of creating effective solutions to ensure a stable and competitive business climate on both sides of the Atlantic.
During the discussions, Tsvetelina Penkova, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Committee on Industry, Research, and Energy, highlighted three key priorities shaping the future of the energy sector: diversification of energy sources, balance in the energy mix, and the development of energy connectivity, which is crucial for improving infrastructure and market integration. Larry Bucshon, a long-term Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, underscored the significance of cooperation among nations that share common values as a driving force for economic growth and long-term development. According to him, the energy sector is undergoing a dynamic transformation and the commitment to sustainable energy solutions not only enhances economic performance but also creates new opportunities for global development. Donna Shalala, former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives, highlighted the role of the business in driving change, stating that the economic development is driven by talent, access to technology and innovation, as well as management strategies. She also shared that the differences in regulatory and financial frameworks should not be seen as obstacles but as opportunities for adaptation and the exchange of best practices. According to Ivan Mihaylov, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria, creating an environment where businesses play a leading role in innovation and technological advancement will be the key to long-term competitiveness and economic stability.
The second panel session tackled the topics for circular construction and strategies to support innovations in the EU and showcased successful EU-funded projects demonstrating circular economy solutions.
Pablo Gutierrez from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs highlighted the economic significance of the construction sector for Europe and its pivotal role in the transition to a greener and more sustainable economy. To ensure the sector’s steady development, the European Commission has developed the Transition Pathway for Construction, created in collaboration with industry stakeholders, EU member states, and other key partners. The initiative aims to facilitate an effective transition by integrating green and digital technologies, reducing waste, optimizing resource efficiency, and enhancing industry competitiveness.
As the MOBICCON-PRO project marks two years of its implementation, the conference provided an opportunity to present the progress achieved in developing sustainable and circular solutions for the construction sector. During the forum, Plamena Nenkova, Deputy Executive Director “International Relations and Business Development” at Glavbolgarstroy Holding presented the latest developments in the MOBICCON-PRO project and emphasized the crucial role of the collaboration between businesses and academia in developing technological solutions, optimizing production processes, and fostering market growth by further offering construction products with recycled content. The project has already delivered tangible results following the official launch of the recycling facility in Sofia at the end of the last year. It is not only supporting the deployment of a mobile pilot plant for recycling of construction and demolition waste but is also analyzing the potential of newly developed recycled materials by assessing their market applicability. Moreover, the mobility of the facility enables significant reduction in carbon emissions, as it can be compacted directly at large construction sites or at municipalities possessing no recycling facilities. Mrs. Nenkova concluded that through this project, businesses and local authorities can establish effective partnerships to promote circular economy in the construction sector and accelerate the transition toward more efficient resource utilization.
The conference also provided opportunity for presenting good practices and effective circular systemic solutions developed within other EU-funded projects. The REDOL project was presented by Paola Mazzucchelli, Brussels Delegate at CIRCE – Centro Tecnológico. The project is transforming cities into hubs for circularity that implement zero residues strategies while fostering industrial-urban symbiosis (I-US) approaches among local and regional actors. Jeroen Poppe, Project Researcher, VUB Architectural Engineering presented RECONSTRUCT Project, which is advancing material innovation and digitalization in construction. Last, but not least Ms. Lies Mertens from Tracimat shared best practices from DISCOVER Project, which is applying robotics and AI for circular economy solutions.
