Moment of Truth: Searching for ideas for a sustainable future – that was the theme of this year’s European Forum Alpbach 2024. Foundation professor Anna-Vera Deinhammer spent a week in Tyrol and led a total of three workshops at the renowned international think tank.
The European Forum Alpbach 2024 is about one thing above all: a strong and democratic Europe! And this is only realistic if we work together with innovative minds to find ways to successfully master the challenges of our time.
One of these challenges, the reduction of emissions and the protection of finite resources in the construction industry, is being tackled by foundation professor Anna-Vera Deinhammer. As part of the “STRABAG Labs focused on Circular Economy in the Construction Industry”, Anna-Vera Deinhammer led a total of three workshops to present and discuss a possible solution: The Circular Economy.
In discussions with the participants, including representatives of the VITO Institute, the OIB (Austrian Institute of Building Technology), the Vienna Housing Fund and the Vienna University of Technology, as well as students from a wide range of disciplines, three key influencing factors were identified:
- Recycling building materials as an important key to reducing emissions
- Exploiting the potential of our cities with the help of urban mining
- The use of natural materials, such as sheep’s wool and hemp, for sustainable construction
Anna-Vera Deinhammer on the very intensive week in the Tyrolean Alpbachtal:
“Especially the exchange with the young talents at the Talent Forum was very inspiring for me. It is reassuring to see that the next generation is ready to tackle the challenges of tomorrow with so much passion and energy – because there is still a lot to do!”
The endowed professor was able to make valuable contacts, present her R&D program to a wide range of stakeholders and present her projects with the Circular Economy Forum Austria and the ÖGNI. She will incorporate her insights and findings into her current research projects and share them with the real estate management master’s students.