NWO Awards Over €7.7 Million to Propel TU/e-Led Digital Innovations in Energy Renovation for the Built Environment

(IN BRIEF) The press release announces that the NWO has allocated over 7.7 million euros for four projects aimed at digitizing energy renovation efforts in the built environment. A primary focus of these projects, especially the DPARt project coordinated by TU/e and led by researchers Dujuan Yang and Qi Han, is to develop and implement digital solutions—such as advanced data governance, virtual reality, and detailed digital modeling—to streamline renovation decision-making in Dutch homeowners associations (VvEs). These efforts come at a critical time, as the current capacity for energy-efficient renovations lags behind demand, making the adoption of innovative digital techniques essential for reducing overall energy consumption. In addition, the project leverages significant private sector co-funding amounting to 2.4 million euros, which, when combined with the NWO’s 5.3 million euros, underscores a robust public-private partnership. With a vision to bridge digital planning with real-world applications, DPARt employs techniques like agent-based simulations and AI-powered gamification to expedite stakeholder collaboration and create a scalable, cost-effective blueprint for sustainable renovations. The project also involves an extensive consortium of academic, industrial, and municipal partners, ensuring that its solutions are deeply rooted in practical needs and capable of delivering a lasting societal impact.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 12-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) has granted over 7.7 million euros to support four innovative projects aimed at digitalizing energy renovations in the built environment. With the help of the NWO-KIC Call, these initiatives are set to enhance building sustainability and make better use of available capacity, focusing on new digital techniques that incorporate data governance, virtual reality, and detailed digital models. Private sector partners are also contributing financially to ensure a well-rounded approach to modernizing energy renovation processes.

A key project among these, named DPARt, will be coordinated by TU/e, with researchers Dujuan Yang and Qi Han at the forefront. DPARt—an acronym derived from its commitment to providing digital pathways for expediting collective decision-making for energy renovations, particularly within Dutch homeowners associations (VvEs)—aims to bring transformative changes to the challenges of energy-efficient upgrades. The project is designed to address the critical need for streamlined, efficient renovation strategies in the face of rising energy demands and insufficient current renovation capacities.

Recognizing the essential role of sustainable upgrades in reducing overall energy consumption, the initiative targets the inefficiencies of fragmented decision-making and a shortage in skilled labor by introducing innovative digital solutions. These solutions, which include automated processes and standardized operations, are intended to boost the renovation capacity and accelerate the adoption of necessary energy-efficient changes. By bringing together cutting-edge technologies and municipal expertise with community-based approaches, the project promises to create a replicable model for sustainable transformation, cutting costs and encouraging green practices.

To ground its research in practical application, DPARt’s activities will be implemented in real-world “living labs,” where digital planning meets tangible implementation. In these labs, academic innovation is blended with the real needs of industry and local communities to ensure the project’s outcomes are both practical and scalable. The research team will collaborate with a broad consortium of partners, including Brainport Development N.V., Coders Co., Energie samen, Foodvalley, Energiecoöperatie ValleiEnergie, Fontys University of Applied Science, Games for Health, Het Energie Bureau, JB-Energie, Metropolitan Region Eindhoven, Municipality of Eindhoven, Municipality of Veenendaal, ROM Utrecht Region, Shintolabs, Sustainability coach, TYGRON, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, and VvE Belang. Together, these collaborations bring additional 2.4 million euros in co-funding to complement the 5.3 million euros provided by NWO, reinforcing the project’s commitment to tackling the urgent challenges of energy renovation.

Yang encapsulated the project’s ambitious goals by stating, “As climate action becomes increasingly critical, fragmented decision-making, labor shortages, and underutilized AI tools continue to slow progress. DPARt confronts these barriers head-on by uniting cutting-edge technology, municipal expertise, and community-driven solutions.” He further elaborated on the innovative aspect of the initiative, noting that the integration of agent-based simulation systems and AI-powered gamification tools will enhance stakeholder collaboration, enabling quicker, data-driven decisions within local governments and VvEs.

Written by

Joana Borges
Communication Advisor
 j.borges.castilho@tue.nl

Media Contact:

Nicole van Overveld
Press Officer
+31 (0)6 51 925 937
n.w.m.p.v.overveld@tue.nl

SOURCE: NWO