The research institute InnoRenew CoE successfully applied to the ERA Fellowships call, a research project focused on reusing timber in structural building applications. With this grant, researchers will explore new ways to reuse timber and thus advance sustainable practices and promote circular economy within the construction sector.

Dr. Mohammad Derikvand, InnoRenew CoE researcher, successfully applied to the ERA Fellowships call, with the project “Lifecycle extension of salvaged wooden materials through reuse in dowel-laminated timber (EcoDLT)”. During this 2-year project, Dr. Derikvand, with direct support from Dr. Rok Prislan, head of InnoRenew CoE’s Buildings research department, will be demonstrating innovative ways in which salvaged timber can be reused in the production of dowel-laminated timber structural floor elements.

Each year, a substantial volume of wood waste is generated across various sectors. In most EU countries, such materials are primarily used for energy recovery, however, their potential for structural reuse has remained largely unexplored. This is primarily due to challenges related to shape irregularities, service damages, dimensions limitation, chemical or mechanical contaminants (e.g., preservatives, nails, etc.), and degraded mechanical properties. Due to such challenges, salvaged timber requires considerable processing that makes it less profitable to reuse.

As part of the EcoDLT project, the InnoRenew CoE researchers will evaluate the current state of salvaged timber resources in Slovenia and establish a fit-for-purpose fabrication method that can reduce processing costs, thereby making salvaged timber more profitable to reuse in structural applications. Further, they will establish and validate analytical models that can reliably predict the structural properties of EcoDLT floor elements from salvaged timber.

With this project’s outcomes, the InnoRenew CoE will help advance innovations in wood cascading and make significant contributions to the circular economy and the construction sector.

The ERA Fellowships call builds on the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 action, targeting organizations based in Widening Countries, including Slovenia. These fellowships are enabling researchers of any nationality, to participate in R&I projects by either relocating to the EU from anywhere in the world or moving within the EU to a Widening Country.