BGTEC is a Polish SME, active since 1996 in the production of customised windows and fenestration products for high-end clients; our current niche market consists of new constructions and deep retrofitting projects, in particular nearly zero energy single-family houses, villas and passive houses. As a result of our continuous product development efforts to fulfil market demand, in 2012 we have conceived an innovative idea for a reversible window technology, the WISER window. Windows operated through a rotation across mid axis are state of the art, however none of them allows users to rotate the window sash 180° and lock it in the new position. WISER reversible window technology is enabled by innovative hydraulic gaskets and burglar-proof electro-magnetic locking mechanisms fully integrated in the structure of the frame, operated via a simple to use control system which can be integrated to a central building automation infrastructure or central security system. WISER is the only window that can reduce the thermal radiation from the outside during summer season, and reduce the thermal dispersion from the interior in the winter, thanks to the double positioning of the low-E glass. Enhanced ventilation is permitted through an innovative use of the active gaskets, permitting air flow while keeping the window locked. WISER window can be easily adapted to different climates and seasons along the year as well as material combinations and building types. WISER allow easy, cheaper and safer cleaning of glasses on both sides. WISER product family is aimed to change the way people interacts with windows: its unique design satisfies in a single product the needs for energy efficiency, indoor climate, security as well as easier and safer cleaning. It represents therefore an incredible business opportunity for us to move from a niche onto a multi-million market with a much larger international presence, in line with the ambition of the projects to get funded under the SME Inst.

Fibre reinforced thermoset composites (FRTCs) are attractive materials for high demanding sectors, such as automotive or construction, due to their lightweight and excellent mechanical properties. However, the lack of reprocessability and difficulty for repairing and recycling significantly increases the overall material cost and causes grave environmental concerns. Additionally, the vast majority of polymer matrices and fibres used in their manufacturing are non-renewable fossil-derived materials or require high amounts of energy for their production. Aiming at addressing those limitations by involving the European bio-based industry, ECOXY will develop innovative bio-based epoxy resins and fibre reinforcements to produce new sustainable and techno-economically competitive FRTCs by targeting advanced functionalities: reparability, reprocessability and recyclability (3R). The 3R functionalities will be achieved by using new resin formulations replacing commonly used curing agents by dynamic hardeners, which under certain operational makes possible to: 1) repair fibre/matrix delamination and matrix micro-cracks, 2) reprocess cured laminates could be reprocessed to create new 3D parts (impossible with traditional FRTCs), 3) mechanical and chemical recycling. Thus, ECOXY will develop: 1) tailor-made bio-based epoxy monomers (including biorefinery products), 2) upgraded and functional bio-based fibres (natural and PLA), 3) specific formulations for FRTCs manufacturing processes (RTM, wet compression moulding and pultrusion) and 4) additional functionalities such as flame-retardancy for 3R resin and self healing for fibres. The selected prototypes will be validated for automotive and construction sectors using relevant standards and applicable certifications. Besides, an environmental (LCA) and socio-economic assessment of the results will be carried out. The well balanced composition of the consortium, 6 SME, 6 RTO and 1 academia gives ECOXY the maximum chance of succ

Envision a full envelope concept that harvests solar energy from the 120 billion square meters of building surface available within the EU28. Envision using the currently unused 60 billion square meters of façade surface. That is why ‘ENVISION’ will demonstrate a full renovation concept that, for the first time, harvests energy from ALL building surfaces (transparent and opaque). The hybrid harvesting solutions will harvest energy both thermal and electric from the whole envelope, using standard PV solutions for roof and developing new solutions for the façade. As façade solutions have the lowest TRL, ‘ENVISION’ will develop energy harvesting invisible aesthetic façade solutions. The solutions will harvest maximum amount of solar energy and simultaneously retain the aesthetic and functional properties of the façade. To maximise efficient usage of the harvested energy, the solutions are coupled to novel heat systems and district heat networks. ENVISION’ focusses on energy harvesting of the façade, and works by absorbing the invisible part of the solar radiation (the near-infrared (NIR) part, roughly 50% of the solar energy spectrum) allowing visible aspects to be retained. The ‘ENVISION’ harvesting of solar energy is achieved via: 1. heat collecting non-transparent aesthetically pleasing façade elements by harvesting the NIR solar radiation, 2. heat harvesting ventilated glass by harvesting the NIR solar radiation, 3. electricity harvesting photovoltaic glazing solutions

We will validate an affordable (28% reduction of total costs) and lightweight (35% weight reduction) solution for envelope insulation to bring existing curtain wall buildings to “nearly zero energy” standards while complying with the structural limits of the original building structure and national building codes. Two key commercial insulating products: • Highly insulating mono-component and environmentally friendly spray foam, EENSULATE foam, for the cost-effective automated manufacturing and insulation of the opaque components of curtain walls as well as for the significant reduction of thermal bridges during installation (SELENA and EVONIK in cooperation with ULSTER); • Lightweight and thin double pane vacuum glass, EENSULATE glass, for the insulation of the transparent component of curtain walls, manufactured through an innovative low temperature process using polymeric flexible adhesives and distributed getter technology, thus allowing to use both annealed and tempered glass as well as low emissivity coatings (AGC, SAES and TVITEC in cooperation with ULSTER and UNIVPM ). A multi-functional thermo-tunable coating will allow for dynamic solar gain control as well as anti-fogging and self-cleaning properties (AGC in cooperation with UCL). They will enable insulating solutions that Focchi, DAPP and Unstudio will promote with two different levels of performance: • EENSULATE Basic curtain wall modules where the thermal and acoustic insulation will be provided by the novel EENSULATE glass and EENSULATE foam in the spandrel combined with state of the art low-e coated glass; • EENSULATE Premium modules integrating the thermo-chromic coated glass with additional self-cleaning and anti-fogging functionalities. BGTEC will exploit the limited thickness and high insulating properties of the EENSULATE glass to introduce in their range innovative solutions for the fenestration challenges in historical buildings, compatible with the original window frames and sash designs.