The construction sector is increasingly challenged by the need to reduce environmental impacts while adapting to climate change and ensuring stable access to raw materials. Wood plays an important role as a renewable construction material, yet current industrial processes are still mainly optimized for softwood species such as spruce, which are becoming more vulnerable under changing climatic conditions.

In the HICAP project (Hardwood in construction: A path to sustainability and climate adaptation), researchers focus on improving the use of deciduous tree species such as beech and oak in construction applications. The main objective is to increase resource efficiency and enable broader integration of hardwoods as sustainable building materials. Researchers adapt existing wood processing technologies, including quality assessment, adhesive bonding and chemical treatments originally developed for softwoods, to better match the anatomical, physical and mechanical properties of hardwood species.

A key aspect of the project is the technological adjustment of processing methods for hardwoods in order to improve their suitability for structural applications. This supports a reduction in dependence on spruce as the dominant commercial species in Europe and contributes to more climate-resilient material sourcing strategies in the wood-based construction sector.

The project also aims to establish a long-term consortium of research and industry partners from Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia and the Czech Republic, connecting leading institutions in forestry and wood technology. This is supported through workshops and partner meetings addressing market developments, regulatory frameworks and current research and industry practices across participating countries.

HICAP runs from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2027. Dr. Matthew Schwarzkopf is the local coordinator at the University of Primorska and is financed by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. The overall coordinator of the project is Filip Majstorović at the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research. Project partners include the University of Zagreb, HUP Association of the Wood and Paper Industry, Croatian chamber of commerce – association of wood processing industry, Mendel University in Brno, Matrix, Pollmeier, Gelignit, Stilles, LignoSilva CoE, WiseWerk and InnoRenew CoE, UP IAM.

In the second phase, the consortium plans to prepare a joint application for a Horizon Europe call in 2026, further strengthening cross-border cooperation in sustainable wood-based construction.

Authors: Lara Prah, Dr. Lea Primožič, Dr. Matthew Schwarzkopf