weTHINK. Sustainable Construction Conference: Beyond Ideas – Towards Impact

Events 2021 overview

Go Back

Goal

Follow-up on 2020 Idea mapping effort and events.
Outline a Roadmap to sustainable procurement for CEEC region.
Further develop strategy implementation projects (e.g. Knowledge exchange platform, Stakeholder engagement platform)
Support cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange.
Facilitate business networking and cooperation.
Improve procurement systems across the EU.
Enhance cross-industry dialogue and cooperation.

Brings Together

Construction materials producing companies.
Technology providers.
Construction companies.
Municipalities and public companies.
Engineers and consultants.
Chambers of commerce and industry.
Banks and financing institutions.
Universities and research centers.
Media actors.

Expected attendance: 150 people.

Topics to be covered

Procurement policy and practices across Europe.
Stakeholder engagement mechanisms.
Education and knowledge exchange practices.
CO2 in construction – the role of public procurement in advancing sustainable construction.

Event Structure

10 May 2021

11.00 – 12.30. Panel discussion on “Mapping a policy roadmap to sustainability in Europe through public procurement”

- Keynote presentations on the European and local developments regarding public procurement and sustainability in construction.
  - - Sašo Matas, Director General of Public Procurement Directorate, Slovenia.
    - Sandra Nedeljković, Deputy Director of the Public Investment Management Office, Serbia
    - Mirsad Jašarspahić, Rotating President/Vice President of the Chamber of Economy of FBiH.
    - Bojan Bogdanovic, President of GBC Serbia.

Open discussion floor on “What are the most important policy changes to be implemented in CEEC?”
- - Moderated by Sorin Cebotari, Senior Research Manager at weTHINK.

13.00 – 14.00. Discussion groups
- How to improve institutional capacity and knowledge regarding public procurement?
  - Capacity building and cross-border cooperation through education and knowledge exchange.
  - Moderated by Sorin Cebotari, weTHINK., Austria.
  - Discussants:
    - Dr. Martin Schneider, Chief Executive Officer at German Cement Works Association.
    - Dorin Beu, Green Building Council Romania.
    - Erdal Trhulj, President of Engineers Chamber of Federation of BiH.
    - Nikola Lukovic, President of Assembly of Civil Engineers Chamber inside Engineers Chamber of Montenegro

- What are the available tools for an efficient digitalization of Public Procurement?
  - Moderated by Ingo Mayr-Knoch, weTHINK, Austria.
  - Discussants:
    - Roberto Adami, Vice President for Corporate Market at Vortal.
    - Veljko Janjic, CEO and co-founder of Bexel.
    - Dragoslav Sumarac, President for Association of Liberal Engineers of
      Serbia (ALES).
    - Zeljko Zugic, Coordinator inPublic Investment Management Office.

14.00 – 15.00. Open dialogue session to collect inputs and draft the structure of the Roadmap

- Moderated by Sorin Cebotari, weTHINK.

11 May 2021

Applied trainings and knowledge exchange:
- 10.30 – 12.30. Mechanisms to foster decarbonization through Public Procurement.
  - - Borja Izaola, Green Building Council Espana.
    - Petra Ferk, Institute for Public-Private Partnership, Slovenia.

- 10.30 – 13.00 Emissions of CO2 in construction.
  - - Ulrich Nolting, InformationsZentrum Beton – “How to reduce CO2 in construction – strategies, technologies and innovative practices”.
    - Luc Rens, European Concrete Paving Association (EUPAVE) – “Facts and figures on the contribution of concrete roads to CO2-reduction”.

- 13.00 – 15.00 – BIM in public procurement for construction.
  - - Ross Griffin, Kosmos, Denmark.
    - Tore Hvidegaard, 3dbyggeri, Denmark.
    - Michael Schwartz, Ajour System, Denmark.
    - Matthew Jackson, BIM Object, Denmark.
    - Frans Leurink, GloBLD, Denmark.

- 13.00 – 15.00 Smart city and smart infrastructure – what can it bring to sustainable procurement.
  - - Dragos-Eduard Nedelea, Electrogroup, Romania
    - Miodrag Gluscevic, Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities – National Association of Local Authorities in Serbia.

- 15.00 – 15.30 – Closing panel and presentation of follow-up activities.

Mechanisms to foster decarbonization through Public Procurement

Smart City and Smart infrastructure as a pathway to sustainability

BIM in Construction

CO2 in Construction

Moderator

Sorin studied at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, where he claimed his Ph.D. in Geography (Sustainable development). Additionally, he has a MA in Political Science which he studied at the Central European University, Budapest, Hungary for.