On Friday, 8 November 2024, the InnoRenew CoE research institute with support from the U-LEAD with Europe program, hosted a conference which gathered key stakeholders from across the EU and Ukraine in Brussels to discuss and advance the establishment of the New European Bauhaus Academy in Ukraine (NEB Academy Hub Ukraine).

The conference, held at the Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Brussels, provided an opportunity for Ukrainian and other European experts to share insights on how to meet Ukraine’s extensive reconstruction needs using sustainable methods that align with the European Union’s ambitious climate goals. It brought together experts from the construction, policy, and education sectors to discuss sustainable and inclusive development.

Ukraine is now exploring European initiatives like the New European Bauhaus (NEB), which addresses sustainable construction, inclusivity and aesthetic quality. However, significant knowledge gaps related to bio-based building materials, digital technologies, and circularity amongst others remain. Therefore, the NEB Academy was established to upskill and reskill construction professionals across Europe. This is why different Hubs are being developed around Europe, including in Ukraine, to prepare for responsible and sustainable rebuilding and reconstruction of the country.

The conference began with a welcome address from Iztok Jarc, Ambassador at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union, Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine, Anna Kotļara, Policy Officer on Decentralization and Regional Policy, Ukraine Service, DG NEAR, European Commission, and Bastian Veigel, Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe. They agreed about the importance of international cooperation in fostering sustainable reconstruction in Ukraine and set an encouraging tone for the rest of the event.

Lorenzo de Simone, Policy Officer from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, presented an overview of the New European Bauhaus initiative’s progress in Europe, while Michael Burnard, InnoRenew CoE’s Deputy Director, outlined the NEB Academy Hub Ukraine initiative’s activities and objectives. Vladyslav Kysil, short-term legal expert from Ukraine at InnoRenew CoE, discussed potential operational models for the NEB Academy Hub Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainable construction practices within Ukraine’s regulatory and educational frameworks.

In a panel discussion moderated by Uwe Kies, Secretary General of InnovaWood, experts including Olga Balytska, short-term policy and law expert for InnoRenew CoE; Anton Kolomeytsev, Chief Architect of Lviv; Liudmyla Kryzhanovska, Head of Promprylad Foundation; and Oleksii Shkuratov, Vice-Rector of the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, discussed key challenges facing the NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine.

Andreja Kutnar, InnoRenew CoE director, highlighted the NEB Academy Alliance’s commitment to ensure the availability and development of high-quality trainings to as many workers as possible across Europe and the surrounding regions. Uwe Kies spoke about the NEB Academy Outreach Hub that promotes the advancement and wider adoption of training and education related to renewable biobased materials, products, building solutions, architecture and urban development.

In a roundtable discussion, led by Andreja Kutnar and Uwe Kies, European experts from various organizations, including Višnja Košćak (Wood Cluster Styria, Austria), Camilla Berggren-Tarrodi (RISE Sweden), Philipp Misselwitz (Bauhaus Earth, Germany), Olena Pitirimova (short-term architecture and construction expert at InnoRenew CoE), and Andre Fabian (GIZ Program Director, Financing Energy for Low-Carbon Investment – Cities Advisory Facility II (FELICITY II) Eastern Partnership and Central Asia), shared different opportunities for collaboration with existing and developing NEB Academy Hubs, such as exchange of knowledge, co-organization of trainings, and exchange of training materials.

The conference concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture and the University of Primorska, highlighting a commitment to promote international cooperation for enhancing educational effectiveness, advance scientific research, and strengthen academic processes.

The Roadmap to a NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine networking and outreach conference marked an important step forward for establishing the NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine. By promoting collaboration between various experts and stakeholders the NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine has a the potential to close knowledge gaps and transform Ukraine’s rebuilding process by embedding principles of sustainable, inclusive and beauty.

Statements:

• Iztok Jarc, Ambassador, Permanent Representation of the Republic of Slovenia to the European Union

“It gives us great pleasure to host this event. As you are aware, Europe has been and will remain Ukraine’s strongest ally. I firmly believe in the NEB concept, and I was able to observe some real-world NEB examples.”

• Nataliia Kozlovska, Deputy Minister for Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine

“We appreciate everyone’s presence and the chance to participate in this project. We are certain that we must already now make an attempt to incorporate the NEB’s principles into Ukraine’s recovery.”

• Anna Kotļara, Policy Officer on Decentralization and Regional Policy, Ukraine Service, DG NEAR, European Commission

“Buildings are only one aspect of reconstruction. Ukraine joined a platform that embodies the greatest EU concepts and practices through NEB.”

• Bastian Veigel, Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe

 “Ukraine has a unique opportunity to set new standards in resilient reconstruction across Europe and beyond. I am confident that we will work together to meaningfully co-create a path that honors Ukraine’s needs while embracing its prospects of a prosperous and sustainable future.”

•   Michael Burnard, Deputy Director & Head of Health department at InnoRenew CoE, Associate Professor at University of Primorska

“While it is hard to prioritise sustainability, inclusivity, and beauty when the need for shelter and services is so immediate, we already see excellent examples of NEB inspired work in Ukraine. I’m sure we’ll see more, especially when an NEB Academy Hub is active in Ukraine.”

• Andreja Kutnar, Director of InnoRenew CoE, Professor at University of Primorska

“We are honoured that so many participants from Ukraine and across Europe decided to attend our conference and support the NEB Academy Hub initiative. The Hub is aimed at enabling Ukraine’s rebuilding with inclusive and sustainable practices that are in line with EU climate targets. We are working together to create a resilient future for Ukraine.”

About the initiative

“Rebuilding a Better Ukraine via the New European Bauhaus Academy” initiative implemented by InnoRenew CoE and supported by U-LEAD with Europe Programme aims to prepare the basis for the establishment of a NEB Academy Hub in Ukraine.

About U-LEAD with Europe

U-LEAD with Europe: Local Empowerment, Accountability and Development Programme is a multi-donor action of the EU and its member states Germany, Poland, Denmark and Slovenia to support Ukraine on its path to strengthening local self-government. U-LEAD promotes transparent, accountable, resilient and responsive multi-level governance in Ukraine and empowers municipalities.

The conference was supported by the NEBA Alliance project. The NEBA Alliance project (Horizon Europe GA no. 101160532) has been supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members.

The project receives funding from the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.