FEDERAZIONE DELLE COSTRUZIONI

Their core work

Federcostruzioni is an Italian federation representing the construction sector, acting as a national umbrella body that brings together construction industry associations and companies. Within H2020, they focus on digitalization of construction processes — particularly Building Information Modelling (BIM), digital platforms, and open innovation testbeds for building materials. Their role is to bridge the gap between European innovation initiatives and the fragmented Italian construction industry, channeling EU-funded cascade funding and challenge-based opportunities toward SMEs in the building sector.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Federcostruzioni entered H2020 in 2019 with a focus on digital standards — BIM adoption and knowledge management for the European construction sector (DigiPLACE). From 2020 onward, their work shifted decisively toward ecosystem building: metaclustering across sectors, cascade funding for SMEs, and physical testing infrastructure for building materials. The trajectory shows a move from digital standardization toward hands-on innovation support — connecting construction SMEs with testbeds, new materials (additive manufacturing, nature-based solutions), and cross-border innovation networks.

Federcostruzioni is moving from policy-level digital standards toward practical innovation infrastructure — open testbeds, cascade funding, and cross-sectoral materials testing — positioning itself as a gateway for SMEs seeking to pilot new building technologies.

How they like to work

Federcostruzioni operates exclusively as a participant, never as a coordinator — consistent with its role as a sector federation that contributes industry representation and SME access rather than project management. With 80 unique consortium partners across 18 countries, they work in large, multi-stakeholder consortia typical of Innovation Actions and Coordination & Support Actions. Their value to a consortium is as a construction industry multiplier: they bring reach into the Italian building sector and credibility as a national federation.

Across just 3 projects, Federcostruzioni has built connections with 80 unique partners in 18 countries — a remarkably wide network driven by the large-scale ecosystem projects (METABUILDING series). This broad European footprint reflects their role in cross-border construction cluster initiatives.

What sets them apart

As a national construction federation based in Rome, Federcostruzioni offers something few technical partners can: direct access to the Italian construction industry at the association level. For consortium builders, this means a single partner that can mobilize SMEs, validate market needs, and distribute cascade funding across Italy's construction value chain. Their progression from DigiPLACE to the METABUILDING series shows they are a trusted, returning partner in construction digitalization and innovation ecosystems.

Highlights from their portfolio

• METABUILDING
  Largest funding (EUR 657,754) — a cross-sectoral metaclustering project distributing cascade funding to construction SMEs across Europe.
• METABUILDING LABS
  Extends until 2026 and establishes a physical Open Innovation Test Bed for building envelope materials — their most infrastructure-oriented project.