Advanced climate risks are increasingly affecting European cities, infrastructure, and citizens’ well-being, particularly through rising energy demands and the need for more resilient public spaces. The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative provides a guiding framework for addressing these challenges by combining sustainability, aesthetics, and social inclusion with innovation in advanced materials.

In the AMBIENT project (Advanced Materials for NEB-Inspired Environmental Public Procurement), researchers will build a Europe-wide consortium of public procurers and advanced material experts to better align procurement needs with emerging solutions. The project focuses on identifying gaps in climate resilience, energy efficiency and public welfare and on translating these needs into actionable procurement strategies.

To support this process, AMBIENT will organise Open Market Consultations, matchmaking events and demand–supply gap analyses, enabling structured dialogue between public authorities and innovators. In parallel, the project will strengthen the capacity of public buyers through training activities, practical guidelines, and digital tools designed to support innovation-friendly procurement decisions. Special attention will be given to preparing future Public procurement of innovative solutions procedures that embed sustainability, circularity and standardisation principles.

By connecting municipalities, SMEs, startups and research organisations across Europe, AMBIENT aims to reduce the risks associated with innovation procurement and accelerate the uptake of advanced materials in the built environment. This will support the development of more resilient, inclusive and sustainable public spaces, while contributing to broader European policy goals.

The AMBIENT project runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 May 2028 and is funded by Horizon Europe. It is coordinated by the Science and Innovation Link Office, while other project partners include University of Primorska, , Metabuilding ASBL, Dubrovnik Development Agency DURA Ltd., Dubrovnik’s Institute for the Restoration of Dubrovnik, Altaee, ICLEI Europe, Fraunhofer IBP, Municipality of Katerini, City of Haarlem, SINTEF, Municipality of Horta, and IMDEA Materials Institute. The University of Primorska team includes Dr. Andreja Kutnar) and Dr. Lea Primožič.

Ultimately, AMBIENT will help strengthen Europe’s capacity for innovation in public procurement by making advanced materials more accessible and easier to integrate into climate-resilient and sustainable public infrastructure. Through this, the project will support cities and public authorities in delivering more adaptive, inclusive and resource-efficient built environments aligned with the goals and principles of the New European Bauhaus.

Authors: Dr. Andreja Kutnar, Lara Prah, Dr. Lea Primožič