- GRANT NUMBER: 101215956-BIOARC-HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01
- PROJECT TITLE: Bioregional mineralisation with agricultural resources for construction (BIOARC)
- PROJECT LEADER: Karen Butina Ogorelec, PhD
- PERIOD: 1. 5. 2025 – 30. 4. 2028
- BUDGET: 3.899.197,50 EUR (317.875,00 EUR for InnoRenew CoE)
- FINANCING: Horizon Europe
- PROJECT COORDINATOR: Technische Universitaet Muenchen – TUM (Germany)
- PARTNERS: University of Northumbria at Newcastle – UNN (UK), Cresco Biotech Limited (UK), WELOOP (France), Inosens d. o. o. Novi Sad (Serbia), Bavarian Research Alliance GMBH – BayFOR (Germany), Vestaeco Nonwovens Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia (Poland), Barthhaas GMBH & CO. KG (Germany), Terres Inovia (France), Innova-Tech S.R.L. (Italy), InnoRenew CoE (Slovenia)
BIOARC connects the agricultural and construction sector by developing high-performance bio-based building materials from agricultural by-products. Bacteria are included as co-creators through a biomineralization process, to develop lightweight, fire-resistant products – such as insulation boards, construction panels, acoustic panels, and partition walls. To ensure global scalability, the project will leverage regionally available resources like rice, wheat, sunflower, and hops, which are widely accessible not only in the EU but also in other parts of the world. By standardizing production processes and rigorously assessing the structural, thermal, acoustic, health-related, and durability properties of the materials, the project ensures consistent quality, performance and validating them in real-world construction environments. The project takes a bioregional approach, collaborating closely with local communities, farmers, craftsmen, and industries to develop local value chains that reduce carbon emissions and promote circular economy principles. By connecting stakeholders across four European bioregions, the project integrates a participatory design process, ensuring that the developed materials are not only environmentally sustainable but also culturally embedded and economically viable. The project engages with the NEB hub for results and impacts, as well as contributing to regenerative design principles in the construction sector. BIOARC aims to provide scalable, cost-effective, and high-performance materials, while supporting local economies and promoting resilience against environmental and economic changes.
