A Vision for the Transformation of the Construction Industry
The event kicked off with a joint presentation by the cluster spokespersons, Professor Martin Claßen and Professor Viktor Mechtcherine, who outlined the cluster’s overarching goals. They highlighted CARE’s mission: a fundamental transformation of the construction industry through the development and integration of new building materials, forward-looking design principles, and advanced manufacturing technologies.
Strategic Workshops and Common Research Standards
To lay a solid foundation for collaboration within the Cluster of Excellence, the meeting featured targeted workshops and keynote presentations on essential research standards. Professor Jakob Beetz and Professor Jörg Blankenbach provided an introduction to research data management within the CARE infrastructure. The fundamental principles of scientific integrity were addressed in a keynote by Professor Christina Scheffler on “Good Scientific Practice.” Additionally, Professor Marzia Traverso and Professor Edeltraud Guenther provided insights into the cluster’s sustainability assessment, thereby emphasizing the core philosophy of sustainable construction. In interactive poster sessions and short presentations, the individual project teams also presented their specific research questions, thereby fostering interdisciplinary awareness within CARE.
Focus on Networking
In addition to the scientific program, there was a special emphasis on community building. During a hike through the Würzburg vineyards, the 80 participants had the opportunity to get to know one another in a relaxed atmosphere and exchange initial ideas for cross-project collaborations.
About CARE
Researchers from TU Dresden and RWTH Aachen University are conducting research in the CARE Cluster of Excellence on climate-friendly building materials, new construction principles, and advanced manufacturing technologies, incorporating digital technologies and sustainable framework conditions. Five specialized research areas are working toward a shared vision: The building of the future should be designed to be durable, efficient, and responsible – with scalable, affordable, and climate-resilient construction solutions that can be implemented worldwide.
