DEPARTAMENT DE TERRITORI, HABITATGE I TRANSICIO ECOLOGICA

Their core work

This is the Catalan regional government department responsible for territorial planning, housing, and ecological transition, based in Barcelona. In EU projects, they contribute real-world policy experience and regulatory authority in building energy efficiency, transport emissions, and climate adaptation — areas where they hold direct governance responsibility. They bring the perspective of a regional public authority that actually implements energy retrofit programs, transport infrastructure policy, and environmental regulations on the ground, making them a credible end-user and policy validation partner in research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early projects (2016-2019) focused narrowly on building energy efficiency — smart meter data analysis, energy performance contracts, and innovative financing for retrofits. From 2020 onward, their scope broadened significantly into transport-environment interactions (biodiversity on transport networks, nanoparticle emissions) and climate resilience with nature-based solutions. This trajectory reflects the department's own institutional evolution toward ecological transition, moving from energy-only work into a wider environmental and climate portfolio.

They are clearly broadening from energy efficiency toward integrated climate resilience and sustainable transport, suggesting future interest in projects that combine built environment, biodiversity, and adaptation policy.

How they like to work

They participate exclusively as a partner — never as coordinator — which is typical for a regional government department contributing policy expertise rather than leading research. With 120 unique partners across 23 countries from just 7 projects, they work in large, diverse consortia (averaging 17+ partners per project). This makes them a low-risk, experienced consortium partner who knows how to operate within large EU project structures without demanding leadership overhead.

An extensive network of 120 unique partners across 23 countries, built through large CSA and RIA consortia. Their reach spans most of the EU, with particularly strong exposure to pan-European policy and coordination projects.

What sets them apart

As a regional government authority with direct responsibility over territorial planning, housing, and ecological transition in Catalonia, they offer something most research partners cannot: real regulatory power and implementation authority. They can pilot project results in actual policy, validate solutions against real administrative constraints, and provide access to regional-scale data on buildings, transport, and land use. For consortia needing a credible public-sector end-user in southern Europe, they are a strong fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• IMPETUS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 128,252), addressing climate resilience through co-creation and nature-based solutions — represents their strategic shift toward ecological transition.
• EN-TRACK
  Built an open-source energy performance tracking platform with benchmarking and interoperability standards — their most technically ambitious energy project.
• BISON
  Unusual intersection of biodiversity conservation and transport infrastructure planning, reflecting their dual mandate over territory and ecological transition.