Innovations cluster DICE officially registered with the EU
The "Digital Innovation Cluster for the Build Environment" led by HafenCity University Hamburg (DICE) was officially included in the EU funding program Build4People during a Signature Ceremony on May 26th in Brussels.
In an official ceremony held on May 26, 2026 in Brussels, the "Digital Innovation Cluster for the Built Environment" (DICE) registered in the EU funding program Build4People. The Build4People funding program, based on the New European Bauhaus, supports over 30 European innovation clusters that deal with future topics in the fields of architecture, engineering and construction.DICEis a network of stakeholders who want to close the value chain in the field of digital planning and construction - from research to practical application - and drive it forward with new innovations.
DICE is a network of stakeholders who want to close the value chain in the field of digital planning and construction - from research to practical application - and drive it forward with new innovations. This initiative stems from HafenCity University Hamburg, which manages the network organizationally and has been promoting its development from the Hamburg context for about a year. The core group of DICE, in addition to HCU, also includes Bundesverband Smart City e.V. (BVSC) , the startup UrbView, the software company integrationWorks and the BIM expert Prof. Mondino.
Beyond the core group, the network is to be expanded in the coming months and years to include DICE continuously expanded, pioneering innovation projects launched jointly, and visibility and support created for future topics in digital planning and construction. At the signing of the Cluster Charter and Development Roadmap in Brussels, in addition to those responsible at HCU, Professor Jörg Rainer Noennig and Fernando Montano (both from Digital City Science), the President of the University, Professor Jörg Müller-Lietzkow, and the management of Integration Works (Stefan Marhauser), a member of the core group of DICE were present.
Workshop III at HCU on 20 March 2026
The DICE Consolidation Workshop brought together representatives from academia, industry, public administration, and innovation organizations to further develop the vision, structure, and future activities of the Digital Innovation Cluster for the Built Environment. Through presentations, collaborative discussions, and interactive working sessions, participants explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation across the entire value chain of planning, construction, and urban development.
A central outcome of the workshop was the identification of key ambitions for DICE. Participants emphasized the importance of creating an open innovation ecosystem that facilitates knowledge transfer, data exchange, and collaboration between research institutions, businesses, and public authorities.
Additional goals included supporting spin-offs and innovation transfer, establishing demonstrators and incubators, strengthening international cooperation, and developing a sustainable member-driven network that promotes people-centered and digitally enabled urban development.
The workshop also defined future innovation formats and thematic priorities for the cluster. Proposed activities include cross-cluster networking events, thematic working groups, stakeholder sparring sessions, shared knowledge databases, and collaborative innovation platforms. Key innovation themes discussed during the event included digital twins, connected construction sites, AI-assisted planning and construction processes, interoperable data ecosystems, lifecycle information management, and user-friendly digital standards. These discussions provide a foundation for future DICE initiatives, pilot projects, and collaborative funding proposals.
Built4People Kickoff for Digital Innovation Cluster for the Built Environment (DICE)
When: 10 December 5-8pm
Where: HCU Hamburg, lecture hall 3.008
Built4People as a European partnership within the “Horizon Europe” links the entire value chain in construction to accelerate innovations for a sustainably
constructed environment.