Results

FENESTRAE Call for Ideas Accelerating Innovation for Smart and Energy-Efficient Building Solutions 

Are you developing an innovative solution for smarter, more energy-efficient buildings or sustainable agricultural applications?  The FENESTRAE Call for Ideas is looking for innovative SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and professionals with solutions that have the potential to move from prototype to market.  Selected applicants will gain access to the FENESTRAE Cross-Border Consulting System: a tailor-made, transnational support service delivered by universities, innovation agencies, and business development organisations across the IPA ADRION area. Participants will be able to build their own package of consulting services, receiving technical, business, financial, regulatory, and market access support according to their specific needs.  The initiative is funded by the Interreg VI-B IPA ADRION Programme as part of the FENESTRAE project. 

Who Can Apply? 

Applications are welcome from organisations and professionals based in the eligible IPA ADRION Programme area, including: 

• SMEs operating in the construction and building sector  

• Agricultural and agri-tech companies  

• Deep-tech start-ups  

• University spin-offs  

• Innovative companies developing solutions related to energy efficiency and smart building technologies  

• Professionals (e.g. architects, engineers, designers, consultants)  

Applicants should propose solutions with an indicative Technology Readiness Level (TRL) between 4 and 6, demonstrating clear potential to advance towards market readiness (TRL ≥ 7). 

What You Will Receive 

Selected applicants will benefit from a tailor-made consulting programme delivered by the FENESTRAE partnership.  Available services include: 

• Technical validation and TRL assessment  

• Business development and industrialisation support  

• Financial advisory and investment readiness  

• Regulatory and compliance guidance  

• Market access, networking and international visibility  

Each company will work with project experts to build a personalised combination of services based on its innovation, objectives, and development needs. 

Submission Deadline

31st October 2026 (23:59 CET) Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered. 

How to apply  

Complete the online application form

Download the Call for Ideas HERE

The report explores the market readiness of smart building envelope technologies across the IPA-ADRION region. Its aim is to connect European policy ambitions on energy efficiency, Zero-Emission Buildings and the Smart Readiness Indicator with the real conditions for market deployment, investment and implementation in the participating countries.

The analysis focuses on eight key technology groups: electrochromic, thermochromic and photochromic glazing; SPD and PDLC/LCD systems; building-integrated photovoltaics; dynamic shading systems; and façade automation with sensor integration. These solutions help buildings dynamically regulate daylight, solar heat gains and energy flows, reducing energy demand, improving indoor comfort, limiting summer overheating and strengthening climate resilience.

At European level, many of these technologies are already mature and commercially available. However, their uptake across the IPA-ADRION region remains uneven. Slovenia and Italy show stronger market readiness thanks to more structured supply chains, technical expertise and supplier presence. Greece has an advanced regulatory framework, but the market is still selective, with innovative solutions mainly used in premium or pilot projects. In the Western Balkans, Albania and North Macedonia are still at an early stage but show growth potential, while Bosnia and Herzegovina currently has very limited market activity in this field.

A key finding of the report is that technology availability is not the main barrier. The real challenges are implementation confidence, integration capacity and project bankability. Smart façade solutions are still too often adopted as isolated components, rather than as integrated systems combining dynamic glazing, shading, automation, sensors and renewable energy generation with monitored and verified performance outcomes.

To accelerate market transformation, the report recommends using public buildings — such as schools, hospitals, municipal offices and administrative facilities — as demonstration platforms. These projects can test integrated smart envelope solutions in real-life conditions, generate transparent performance data and build trust among investors, designers, contractors and public authorities.

Scaling up will also require blended financial instruments, technical assistance, performance-based procurement and stronger capacity building across the construction value chain. Moving from lowest-cost procurement toward life-cycle performance and verified energy outcomes will be essential.

Smart building envelope technologies can play a strategic role in the decarbonisation of the building sector. By transforming façades from passive construction elements into adaptive, energy-efficient and climate-responsive systems, they can support the transition toward Zero-Emission Buildings, improve user comfort and help the IPA-ADRION region move from pilot innovation to standard market practice.

The first deliverable of the project has been issued. You can find a report on the national regulations in the field of energy savings in buildings and smart building envelopes here.