The construction sector currently accounts for 37 percent of CO2 emissions globally and therefore holds enormous potential for the green transition. Changing the way we construct and maintain the built environment requires new knowledge if we are to reduce resource consumption and the climate footprint. This is the background for a new research programme called Civil Engineering and the Green Transition in the Built Environment (CEBE) that will explore new solutions to promote sustainability in the construction sector.
The programme will develop new knowledge, methods and materials that can reduce the climate impact and resource consumption of construction, while ensuring that houses, roads, bridges and other structures can last longer. As part of the effort, academic programs will be strengthened, and new talent will be attracted to the field.
The ambition behind CEBE is to make Denmark a European frontrunner in the field.
"More sustainable construction is crucial for the green transition, and it requires new knowledge, new methods and a willingness to change. With this generous grant from the Villum Foundation, the universities can set a completely new standard for education and research capacity in the field – one that will make a decisive difference for the construction sector in Denmark and Europe. There is a clear 'before' and 'after' this grant, for which I am very grateful on behalf of the universities," says Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University.
Transforming the construction industry
The Villum Foundation intends to invest DKK 1 billion in CEBE over 10 years. This is the foundation's largest research grant to date and a strategic initiative that encompasses the entire ecosystem of the built environment – from developing new educational and research capacity to recruiting international talent and collaborating with stakeholders from the construction sector and industry.
CEBE is structured around seven research fields that together cover the entire life cycle of the built environment – from design, construction and operation to lifetime extension and reuse. These areas are closely interconnected, and the interdisciplinary approach ensures that new knowledge and new technologies are not developed in silos but translated into real-world solutions.
The programme aims not only to strengthen excellence, but also to broaden and diversify Denmark's educational and research environment within this field. With long-term capacity building, the ambition is to create the leaders of the future in climate-conscious construction.
Jens Kann-Rasmussen, Chair of the Villum Foundation, welcomes the universities' constructive engagement in the collaboration.
"With CEBE, we are bringing together some of the country's strongest research environments in a joint effort to develop solutions that reduce the climate footprint of construction and enhance societal resilience. It is an investment in knowledge and innovation that will benefit society as a whole," he says, adding:
"The Villum Foundation's philanthropic work is made possible by the construction industry. It is therefore a great pleasure for us to help accelerate the research-based transition of the sector toward cleaner, greener and more regenerative future".
International reach
Through global recruitment of research talent and collaboration with international research environments and companies, the programme will bridge Danish knowledge with global challenges. More than DKK 100 million is allocated for international collaboration, including a strategic partnership with a university abroad and opportunities for international researchers to participate.
