Hardwood in construction: A path to sustainability and climate adaptation (HICAP)

The project aims to establish a long-term partner structure among leading research and industry entities from Germany, Slovenia, Slovakia, Croatia, and the Czech Republic, specializing in forestry and wood technology. The primary objective of the partner structure will be improving the resource efficiency of deciduous tree (hardwood) species to develop sustainable building products. Specifically, the existing wood processing, quality assessment, adhesive bonding, and chemical treatment technologies – primarily designed for spruce and other conifers (softwoods) – will be adapted to better suit the unique anatomical, physical, and mechanical characteristics of hardwoods, such as beech and oak. As a result, the dependency on climate change-susceptible spruce, a major commercial wood species in Europe, for producing wood-based building products will decrease. The primary objective of the first funding phase is to establish a robust project consortium comprising research and industry partners from all participating countries. This will be achieved through on-site workshops and project partner meetings, facilitating discussions on current market trends, government regulations, and research and industry practices within each country. Subsequently, a project application will be prepared and submitted to the Interreg Central Europe funding program during the second funding phase.