BUILD UP Skills - Strategies and training interventions enabling a decarbonised building stock

Overview

Objectives

The BUILD UP Skills initiative has two primary objectives falling under Scope A and Scope B. Under Scope A, the main objective is to support the revitalisation of the National Platforms created in the first phase of the BUILD UP Skills initiative (2011-2012, ‘Pillar I’), gathering all key national stakeholders. This should be done by addressing the necessary skills development activities related to e.g. digital technologies, smart buildings including e-mobility, resource efficiency, etc. while taking into account the wider EU recovery context. The second objective, under Scope B, is to increase the number of skilled building professionals at all levels of the building design, operation and maintenance value chain.

Activities/actions supported

Each project supported under the BUILD UP Skills initiative will carry out the following activities under Scope A:

• Relaunching of the National Platform, through dedicated communication channels and regular meetings.
• Market research and data collection (Status Quo Analysis).
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of the first National Roadmap implementation.
• Targeted interviews with relevant national stakeholders and target groups.
• Participatory workshops with relevant national stakeholders and target groups.
• Updating of the National Roadmap, including measures to 2030 and policy recommendations; endorsement by relevant national stakeholders.
• Promotion and communication of the results.
• Active participation in European exchange activities.

Funded activities under Scope B can include:

• Skills for delivering building deep renovation, including through modular and industrialised solutions.
• Skills for new and existing nearly Zero Energy Buildings (nZEBs) and bridging the gap towards Zero Emission Buildings (ZEBs).
• Skills for integration of renewable energy and efficient heating and cooling technologies, including in particular heat pumps roll-out; skills for installers to deliver heating and cooling upgrades as part of renovation projects.
• Skills related to whole life carbon (via the assessment of Global Warming Potential), circular construction and resource efficiency, and leveraging the Level(s) framework.
• Digital skills supporting greater energy performance of buildings, in particular through an enhanced use of Building Information Modelling.
• Skills for upgrading the smartness of buildings for greater energy performance (based on the Smart Readiness Indicator), looking in particular at sensors, building controls and building management systems.
• Training of trainers
   

Anticipated outcomes

The BUILD UP Skills initiative will contribute to a robust set of measures designed to upskill building professionals towards the EU’s 2030 targets, as well as result in an increased uptake of sustainable energy skills in the building value chain. 

Institution providing the funding

European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)

Size of funding

€400,000-1 million

Conditions

Overview of eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria include the following:

• Applicants must be be legal entities (public or private bodies) 
• Applicants must be established in one of the eligible countries, i.e.: EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs)), non-EU countries: listed EEA countries and countries associated to the LIFE Programme or countries which are in ongoing negotiations for an association agreement and where the agreement enters into force before grant signature (list of participating countries)
• Project coordinators must be established in an eligible country.

Overview of award criteria

Award criteria:

• Relevance (20)
• Impact (20)
• Quality (20)
• Resources (20)

Proposals will be assessed against these four criteria and weighted accordingly. Proposals must pass the individual thresholds (10/20 per criterion before weighting) and the overall threshold after weighting of 55 points. 

Procedures

Application procedures

Applicants must fill in the standard application form for LIFE projects available here: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/life/temp-form/af/af_life-sap-oag_en.pdf ; a detailed budget form and a participant information form as well. These are found on the funding and+L20+M20

Application support available

More details can be found on the funding and tenders portal page: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/life-2022-cet

Link to funding opportunity

Link to the programme for more info