The research institute InnoRenew CoE and University of Primorska organized the InnoRenew CoE International Conference 2024 (IRIC2024), which took place 11-12 September 2024, in the InnoRenew CoE building in Izola, Slovenia. International experts gathered in Izola to exchange knowledge and experience on the use of renewable materials in creating healthy and sustainable buildings.

Dr Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE director, opened the conference and welcomed attendees saying: “At the two-day conference, we heard from international experts who shared with us the latest insights in advanced manufacturing technology, sustainability and energy efficiency in buildings, the buildings skin and design for human well-being.”

It also focused on the results of research in the increasingly important field of engineered living materials. Dr Anna Sandak from InnoRenew CoE has also recently been awarded a European Innovation Council project for Pathfinder, where they will develop bio-inspired living microbial “tattoos” for buildings with the aim of improving quality of life.

The keynote address was given by Pablo van der Lugt, who is a passionate advocate of bio-based high-performance materials and is convinced that our future will be based on them. He presented his vision for the building revolution and the transition to a more circular economy. Pablo Van der Lugt advocates the use of natural materials, such as engineered bamboo, which can replace environmentally unfriendly materials such as metals and plastics.

In addition to the four thematic sessions, participants had a chance to listed to a discussion about the New European Bauhaus Academy Hub in Ukraine and the NEBA consortium. Dr Andreja Kutnar and Pablo van der Lugt discussed the importance of involving relevant stakeholders in the further development of NEB Academies and NEB Hubs across Europe.

For the sixth consecutive year, the InnoRenew International Conference CoE 2024 (IRIC2024) provided a forum for the exchange and discussion of new scientific developments and innovations in the field of renewable materials that can be used in the built environment to improve human and environmental well-being.