Project development in the 4th call of the Interreg North Sea Programme
CircleBIM takes off: Transforming circular construction in the North Sea Region – REM Consult supports HafenCity University Hamburg as Lead Partner in the Interreg North Sea Programme
Project Launch: CircleBIM Approved under the Interreg North Sea Programme
We are pleased to announce the approval of the CircleBIM project under the Interreg North Sea Programme 2021–2027. REM Consult successfully supported the HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) as Lead Partner in the development and submission of the project proposal under the programme priority “Robust & Smart Economies.” The project was approved in May 2024 and officially launched with a kick-off event at HCU in December 2024. CircleBIM will run until April 2028.
Tackling Challenges in the Construction Sector
The construction sector is one of the leading contributors to waste and resource consumption across the North Sea Region. In response, cities and regions are increasingly committing to sustainable and circular construction practices. However, public planning and building processes often remain inefficient, difficult to scale, and hard to replicate.
One of the core challenges lies in the continued fragmentation of public administration, planning and information management, which often operate in sectoral silos. Additionally, public authorities frequently lack access to data and expertise to effectively manage circular construction processes.
CircleBIM’s Vision and Objectives
CircleBIM addresses these issues by leveraging and advancing Building Information Management (BIM) for circular planning and construction. The project aims to develop a practical and transferable CircleBIM Framework that supports circular practices in public construction projects.
At the heart of CircleBIM are six Local Circular Construction Partnerships (LCCPs), established in Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, the Netherlands and Sweden. Each LCCP will implement a pilot project that applies BIM to promote circular building principles.
Beyond the pilots, regional action plans will be developed to embed project outcomes locally. A North Sea-wide strategy will facilitate the transnational transfer of knowledge, contributing to key EU policy goals, including the Green Deal, the EU Industrial Strategy, the Innovation Agenda and the New European Bauhaus.
A Strong Partnership for Innovation
The CircleBIM consortium brings together 13 organisations from seven countries:
- Lead Partner: HafenCity University Hamburg (DE)
- LCCP partners: IGEMO & Embuild Vlaanderen (BE), Province of Overijssel & Welbions (NL), BUILDERS – School of Construction (FR), Municipality of Middelfart (DK), Municipality of Arvika & Sustainacon Sweden AB (SE)
- Knowledge and expertise partners: Buro de Haan, Saxion University of Applied Sciences (NL), University College of Northern Denmark (DK)
- Further Partner: County Council of Møre og Romsdal (NO), which will contribute insights and learn from the LCCPs
Together, the consortium combines expertise in architecture, digital construction, public administration and innovation management.
CircleBIM is co-funded by the European Union’s Interreg North Sea Programme 2021–2027. The HafenCity University Hamburg also receives additional co-financing from the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) under the German Federal Programme for Transnational Cooperation.