Danube Region Experts Converge in Maribor to Chart the Future of Clean, Circular Construction

Over 50 construction-sector innovators, digital technology specialists, and circular economy researchers gathered in Maribor on 6–7 November 2025 for the “Clean Construction” Trailblazers’ Vision Camp, a landmark conference organised under the Interreg Danube Region Programme project Circular DigiBuild. The event, hosted at Hotel City Maribor with hybrid participation, set out to build a shared roadmap for digitally enabled, resource-efficient construction across the Danube macro-region.

Digital Standards Take Centre Stage

The opening session spotlighted Building Information Modelling (BIM) as the backbone of construction’s digital transition. Dr. Samo Peter Medved, founder of the Slovenian Association for Building Information Modeling (SiBIM), outlined the country’s pioneering work in BIM adoption. Prof. Dr. Andrej Tibaut of the University of Maribor detailed international standardisation efforts led by buildingSMART, while Mag. Ksenija Marc — Slovenia’s representative in the EU BIM Task Group — presented the national strategy for aligning with EU-wide digital construction mandates.

From Waste to Resource: Circular Construction in Practice

Dr. Alenka Mauko Pranjić of the Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG) and coordinator of the Interreg Central Europe ReBuilt project shared research on material reuse and recycled-content building products. Dr. Stanislav Lenart, also from ZAG, presented advances in sustainable earth-based construction materials. Valentina Kuzma of Slovenia’s Chamber of Construction rounded out the morning by outlining the chamber’s activities linking industry with green transition targets.

Cross-Border Partnerships and Pilot Demonstrations

The afternoon programme expanded the conversation to the wider Danube region. David Sörös of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Pécs-Baranya explored synergies between Hungary’s RTIT initiative and Circular DigiBuild. Jana Vítková of the Czech Institute for Circular Economy (INCIEN) discussed voluntary low-emission partnerships for the building sector. The day’s highlight came from Emiliyan Enev of ReCheck and Prof. Mario Vašak of the University of Zagreb, who demonstrated live pilot projects running under Circular DigiBuild — showcasing blockchain-verified material passports and smart energy management for buildings.

Hands-On Study Visits Bring Theory to Life

On 7 November, participants boarded buses for three study visits across the Maribor region. The tour began at the Regional Development Agency for Podravje (RRA Podravje), where Marko Kac presented regional circular economy initiatives. Delegates then visited ZAG’s Laboratory for Building Materials and Material Reuse in Dobrovce, led by Dr. Mauko Pranjić. The final stop was the Centre for the Reuse of Construction Waste in Dogoše — a facility born out of the Horizon 2020 project CINDERELA — where Borut Hojnk of Nigrad d.d. demonstrated how demolition waste is sorted, processed, and returned to the construction supply chain.

“The Maribor Vision Camp proved that the Danube region is ready to lead Europe’s shift toward circular, digitally connected construction. What we saw in the labs and on the ground confirms that the technology and the will exist — now it’s about scaling up through smart policy and cross-border cooperation.”, underlined participants.