florence

[Open Mic: 4 questions to the InnovaWood community] Episode II : What is your favourite wood species and why?

Passion for wood and wood science is at the core of the InnovaWood network.

Its members participate in the European wood science community not only as practitioners but as researchers, co-authors on scientific publications, and consortium partners on European projects including Horizon Europe. That breadth of expertise shapes the way InnovaWood members engage with the field, and with each other.

[Open Mic: 4 questions to the InnovaWood community] Episode I: What has been your favourite IW General Assembly destination?

At this year’s GA in Tulln, Austria, co-hosted with WoodKplus and BOKU. we turned the camera on our community. With Florence Kuijl as reporter and Eva Čeh behind the lens, we asked both longstanding members and first-time participants to share their favourite GA destination. It was a pleasure to involve participants in such a creative endeavour for the first time. 

NEB Academy Alliance presented at the ECTP Conference 2026

Claudio Biondi, representing InnovaWood, introduced the work of the NEB Academy Alliance and its contribution to skills development and innovation in sustainable biobased construction. The presentation took place in a dedicated session on the New European Bauhaus in the construction sector, focused on lesson learnt, gaps & priorities for the NEB Facility.

Forest Bathing : Exploring a New Business Opportunity for Small-Scale Private Forest Owners

InnovaWood is assessing the potential of forest bathing and forest therapy as nature-based services that can diversify forest income, promote the multifunctional use of forests, and strengthen the connection between people and nature. These preliminary findings were presented by Mercedes Rois at the IV Global Summit Science, Nature and Health, highlighting the growing role of health-oriented forest services in sustainable rural development.

NEB Academy Alliance at the Festival of the New European Bauhaus

From June 9-13 2026 the NEB Festival creates a place to understand people’s needs and aspirations and showcase projects that successfully reflect them. In doing so, it demonstrates how an inclusive, sustainable and high-quality built environment can foster community, strengthen resilience and boost competitiveness. The biennial Festival showcases the best practices of the New European Bauhaus, the European Commission initiative that brings the clean transition to our built environments and improves everyday life for everyone. It aims to inspire communities to reimagine spaces, design better living environments and drive sustainability and inclusivity. Many activities for diverse audiences are on the programme of the festival.

Closing the loop on post-consumer fibreboards

At InnovaWood, we engage in cross-discipline collaborations to transform complex ideas into clear and engaging stories for our online and offline audiences. On this occasion, we completed a successful collaboration with Manpaard animation studio in the making of the EcoReFibre animation, drawing on the findings of the European fibreboard industry and recycling sector, with the main goal of giving a second life and value to post-consumer wood waste.

1st NEB Academy Conference

The 1st NEBA conference in Barcelona was co-hosted by the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), the InnovaWood network, and the University of Primorska as part of the UNESCO-UIA Barcelona 2026 World Capital of Architecture programme. This first conference showcased good practices in skills development for sustainable construction and opened a strategic reflection on the Academy’s future role as a comprehensive support system for creating beautiful, regenerative, and inclusive neighbourhoods across Europe.  The 1st NEB Academy Conference marked an important milestone in shaping a European ecosystem for sustainable construction skills. Beyond showcasing achievements, the event strengthened collaboration, sparked new partnerships, and laid the foundations for the next phase of the NEB Academy’s development.