Researchers from the Łukasiewicz – ITECH Institute of Innovation and Technology (consortium leader) and the Łukasiewicz – Poznań Institute of Technology (PIT), together with partners from Finland, Ireland, Italy, Norway, and Slovenia, will jointly develop an innovative system for wooden structures that ensures a longer service life and the possibility of reusing the material.

According to the European Economic and Social Committee’s assessment, building materials based on bio-based raw materials are an important part of the ecological transformation. Wooden structures are also becoming increasingly popular in the European construction industry. Generating a low carbon footprint, they are part of the sustainable development trend. They are also characterised by a reduced dead weight and greater speed of assembly. This makes them competitive with traditional reinforced concrete systems. However, although structural timber can maintain – and even increase – its strength over time, its service life is heavily influenced by environmental conditions and their variability.

Researchers will work not only on the construction system, but also on the application of the developed solution for a better use of forest resources and the achievement of benefits for society, the climate, and the economy.

‘Today, we are seeing increasing market interest in timber construction solutions. They are part of the sustainable development trend, but also have other advantages in terms of lower weight or speed of assembly’, said Arkadiusz Kawa, director of Łukasiewicz – PIT.

According to Grzegorz Malinowski, Director of Łukasiewicz – ITECH, the ongoing project is a success of the integrative potential of Łukasiewicz – ITECH. “In it, we are combining science with business, humanists with engineers, producers with users, and national potential with the opportunities provided by the internationalisation of the Łukasiewicz Research Network”, he said.

Adrian Andrzejewski