30 years of INTERREG

30 years of INTERREG

Project manager Anastasia Araktsidou

Healthy building is a much discussed topic in times of the corona crisis. This is also shown by the number of more than 20 applications for the innovation vouchers for the promotion of sustainable building in the framework of the cross-border project “Healthy Building Network” in the euregio rhine-maas-north. The fact that this can also be economically viable is shown by the example of the new district archive in Viersen, which is to be built at the end of June 2021.

“The Healthy Building Network (HBN) is a cross-border innovation network and a knowledge platform where everything revolves around the topics of healthy building and renovation. This INTERREG project makes it possible to raise awareness of these aspects, to inspire companies and to make existing knowledge on circular economy, intelligent use of sustainable materials and energy efficiency,” says Anastasia Araktsidou, project manager of this INTERREG project.

The state capital Düsseldorf will build a new Technical City Hall near the main railway station and wants to do this in a sustainable and climate-friendly way. Employees of, for example, the city planning office, the building supervision or traffic management will have access to modern digital technology and will share desks. A delegation from Düsseldorf has already visited the new green city hall of Venlo, which was built according to the sustainable cradle-to-cradle principle. “The German-Dutch INTERREG project Healthy Building Network offers innovation vouchers to promote sustainable building. These can also be used by Düsseldorf SMEs for a feasibility study or for a project to develop healthy materials,” says Maike Hajjoubi, Managing Director of the euregio rhine-maas-north.

The Healthy Building Network offers innovation vouchers for various services that help companies on their way to a healthy building. With this voucher, companies can purchase services from other companies or research and educational institutions. It can be used, for example, for a feasibility study or for a project to develop healthy materials. “For me personally, this INTERREG project means that it contributes to a cross-border network in order to develop a model region in which the latest technologies can be demonstrated and experienced. Because healthy buildings are a good proof for the company,” says Anastasia Araktsidou.

The HBN is funded within the INTERREG V-A programme by the European Union, the Province of Limburg, the Ministry of Economics, Innovation, Digitisation and Energy of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the project partners. More information can also be found at https://healthybuildingnetwork.com/de/