SciTransfer
CENTRINNO · Project

Turning Abandoned Industrial Sites Into Productive Local Manufacturing and Innovation Hubs

constructionPilotedTRL 7Thin data (2/5)
centrinno.eu

Imagine old factory districts sitting empty and crumbling in European cities — places that once drove the local economy. CENTRINNO figured out how to breathe life back into these areas by turning them into networks of maker spaces, fab labs, and small production workshops. Think of it like converting a ghost town into a vibrant market street, but for modern manufacturing and crafts. They built mapping tools, heritage archives, and a practical toolkit that cities and developers can use to plan and execute these transformations, tested across 10 countries.

By the numbers
36
consortium partners involved in development and piloting
10
European countries where the approach was tested
29
total project deliverables produced
9
demonstration deliverables including toolkits and mapping tools
6
SMEs participating in the consortium
3
iteration cycles per tool (Alpha, Beta, Final)
The business problem

What needed solving

European cities are losing economic value from abandoned industrial heritage sites that once powered local economies. These areas decay into liabilities — generating no local jobs, no tax revenue, and no connection to the surrounding community. Cities and property owners lack practical, tested methods to convert these sites into productive spaces that respect heritage while generating modern economic activity.

The solution

What was built

Three core tools, each refined through Alpha, Beta, and Final versions: the Fab City Hubs Toolkit for building networks of distributed production hubs, the CENTRINNO Cartography for spatial mapping of industrial areas and resources, and the CENTRINNO Living Archive for documenting heritage layers. In total, 29 deliverables were produced across the project.

Audience

Who needs this

Real estate developers with decommissioned industrial propertiesCity economic development and urban planning agenciesFab lab and makerspace operators seeking anchor sitesCultural heritage organizations managing industrial sitesRegional development agencies targeting local manufacturing revival
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Urban Real Estate Development
mid-size
Target: Property developers or investors specializing in industrial heritage redevelopment

If you are a real estate developer sitting on decommissioned factory complexes with no clear reuse plan — CENTRINNO developed the Fab City Hubs Toolkit that maps how to convert these sites into productive maker hubs. The toolkit went through 3 iteration cycles (Alpha, Beta, Final) across 36 partner organizations in 10 countries, giving you a tested playbook for turning liabilities into revenue-generating creative production spaces.

Municipal Economic Development
enterprise
Target: City planning agencies or economic development offices

If you are a city economic development agency struggling with decaying industrial districts that drain budgets instead of generating tax revenue — CENTRINNO created the Cartography tool and Living Archive that help you map available resources, skills, and heritage assets in these areas. Piloted with 36 partners including the Municipality of Milan as coordinator, these tools help you plan regeneration strategies grounded in local economic reality rather than guesswork.

Creative Manufacturing and Maker Spaces
SME
Target: Fab lab networks, makerspaces, or co-working operators looking to expand

If you are a makerspace or fab lab operator looking to anchor your facility in a larger urban regeneration effort — CENTRINNO built a distributed hub network model connecting craftsmen, entrepreneurs, and SMEs into productive local ecosystems. With 6 SMEs and 6 industry partners in the consortium, the Fab City Hubs Toolkit provides a replicable model for embedding your operations into revitalized industrial heritage sites with municipal backing.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to implement CENTRINNO's toolkit in our city or site?

The project's EU contribution amount is not available in the dataset, so direct cost benchmarks cannot be provided. The Fab City Hubs Toolkit and Cartography tools went through 3 development iterations and are designed as open resources. Implementation costs would depend on site scale, local labor, and the scope of regeneration planned.

Can this approach scale to large industrial districts or multiple sites?

CENTRINNO was designed for multi-site deployment from the start, operating across 36 partner organizations in 10 countries. The toolkit creates a network of distributed and connected hubs, meaning the model is inherently scalable rather than single-site. Each city adapts the approach to local conditions using the Cartography and Living Archive tools.

Who owns the intellectual property — can we license or freely use the tools?

The project was coordinated by a public body (Municipality of Milan) and funded as an Innovation Action under Horizon 2020. Based on available project data, the Fab City Hubs Toolkit and related tools appear to be open resources developed for broad adoption. Specific licensing terms should be confirmed with the coordinator.

How long does a typical site regeneration take using this approach?

The CENTRINNO project itself ran for approximately 3.5 years (September 2020 to February 2024) covering development, piloting, and refinement. Based on available project data, actual site transformation timelines would vary significantly depending on local planning processes, site condition, and investment scale.

Does this comply with EU urban heritage and environmental regulations?

The project was funded under Horizon 2020 topic SC5-20-2019, which specifically targets transforming historic urban areas. The objective explicitly addresses ecological challenges and includes life cycle assessment and material flow analysis components, suggesting alignment with EU environmental and heritage protection requirements.

Can we integrate these tools with our existing urban planning systems?

The CENTRINNO Cartography tool provides spatial mapping of industrial areas and available resources, while the Living Archive documents heritage layers. Based on available project data, these are standalone tools that went through 3 iterations each. Integration with existing GIS or planning systems would need to be assessed with the development team.

Consortium

Who built it

The CENTRINNO consortium is large at 36 partners across 10 countries, led by the Municipality of Milan — a public body, not a commercial entity. The industry ratio is modest at 17% with 6 industry partners and 6 SMEs, while 22 of 36 partners fall into the "other" category (likely municipalities, cultural organizations, and civic groups). This composition signals a project designed for public-sector and community-driven adoption rather than commercial product development. The 5 research and 3 university partners provided academic rigor, but a business looking to implement these tools should expect a public-good orientation rather than a turnkey commercial product.

How to reach the team

Coordinator is COMUNE DI MILANO (Municipality of Milan, Italy). SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortiumSee COMUNE DI MILANO profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how CENTRINNO's urban regeneration toolkit could apply to your industrial site or city district? Contact SciTransfer for a tailored briefing and introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this topicMore in construction
More in construction
See all construction projects →
Artificial Sunlight Windows Ready for Mass Production in Any Indoor Space
CoeLux VR
Open →
AI-Powered Truck Weighing and Waste Tracking for Greener Construction Sites
TRACK4REUSE
Open →
Solar Glass That Replaces Building Windows and Generates Electricity
ADVANCED-BIPV
Open →