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Vision and Goals

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From Vision to Reality Our Goals for meaningful Change

  • A female and a male construction worker observe a futuristic building site: drones scan building surfaces and control transport machines, while robots apply innovative materials. The buildings have free-form shapes with greened floors, a projection shows the construction progress, and the silhouette of a large city is visible in the background.
    © T. Söker

The construction industry is one of the most resource- and energy-intensive sectors worldwide. It is responsible for significant environmental impacts through waste and emissions, and faces further challenges such as comparatively low productivity and demanding working conditions.

The Cluster of Excellence CARE aims to fundamentally transform key areas of the construction industry through the development and integration of innovative materials, pioneering design approaches and advanced manufacturing technologies.

A key focus lies on digital technologies and sustainable framework conditions. The aim is to create scalable, cost-efficient, and climate-resilient construction concepts – adaptable for use worldwide to meet the global demand for an environmentally friendly and efficient construction sector.

To realise this vision, the CARE team is striving to achieve the following goals:

  • A drawing of the earth with a sun and leaves in a blue circle.
    © neongrau

Achieving Climate Neutrality

CARE will develop and implement climate-friendly, recyclable, mineral-based composites to replace Portland cement concrete, thereby addressing the urgent need for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the construction sector. These materials, suitable for mass production, will be seamlessly integrated with innovative design and manufacturing approaches to ensure scalability and economic viability for both new constructions and retrofitting projects.

  • A drawing of a house with leaves on the right side of the roof
    © neongrau

Enhancing Resource Efficiency

CARE's main aim is to pioneer solutions for resource-efficient use of raw materials, energy, and water. We focus on minimizing material use, designing for circularity, and implementing predictive lifetime management across both new and existing structures. By leveraging secondary material streams from various industries and reusing construction materials and structural elements, as well as exploring energy-saving construction processes, CARE aims to reduce waste by up to 70%.

  • a bar chart with a clock and a cogwheel in the foreground
    © neongrau

Increasing Productivity

CARE aims to revolutionize construction processes by developing advanced computational methods and establishing integrated digital workflows that ensure continuous availability of digital data from planning through execution. The consistent digitalization of construction processes, combined with the integration of automated manufacturing techniques and on-site robotic assembly, is intended to double productivity and construction speed while simultaneously reducing costs.

  • Drawing of a woman in work clothes with hard hat and safety goggles
    © neongrau

Improving Working Conditions

CARE pursues the enhancement of safety and the creation of more attractive working conditions by reducing physical strain and eliminating heavy manual labor. By integrating advanced technologies and inclusive practices, CARE seeks to make on-site construction accessible to all people thereby diversifying and strengthening the workforce. In addition, CARE is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of construction activities, including noise and dust emissions, construction duration, and land use, thereby improving the living conditions of affected communities.

  • Drawing of a building with an hourglass in the top right corner in the foreground and an removeable modular element
    © neongrau

Boosting Resilience and Adaptivity

CARE will focus on developing robust and ductile materials, alongside adaptive and environmentally friendly design strategies, to enhance the resilience of structures against the consequences of climate change. This includes strengthening existing buildings and facilitating simple and resource-efficient repairs through modular replacements. Such innovations will not only considerably extend the life span of structures but also enhance their adaptability to environmental stresses, ensuring sustainability in the face of evolving climate conditions.