Skanska partners with Innogy to trial tech in offices

The developer will work strategically with Innogy Innovation Hub on developing technology in the commercial sector.

Under the partnership, Skanska will work with startups in Innogy’s portfolio, and carry out proof of concept projects in Skanska buildings in Poland, Czech Republic, Romania and Hungary.

Innogy Innovation Hub identifies and technology companies that have the potential to redefine the energy market of the future. With buildings responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, the construction and building industry is a focus area for the company.

Together the companies will focus on several areas, such as data analytics from building systems, user comfort, and improvements in the construction process.

Anna Tryfon-Bojarska, innovation manager at Skanska, said cooperation with startups is of “major importance” to the company, because as a developer and general contractor for office building investments, Skanska is responsible for the entire project lifecycle.

She added: “We want to combine Skanska’s experience and business range with Innogy Innovation Hub’s innovation and operating range. Innovative solutions emerge when teams with various competences work on them together. This way, we test and implement solutions that will make our office space even more comfortable and effective in use, and we will be able to learn from our experiences so far by creating a digital twin of a physical building.”

Alina Prawdzik, managing partner of Innogy Innovation Hub, said: “In Skanska, we have a partner able to use this vast potential to increase the efficiency of space use, optimise building productivity and safety, and enhance the wellbeing of building users. This is about us being healthier when leaving the building than we were when entering it.”

Since its launch, Innogy Innovation Hub has created a €162m portfolio and has worked with around 90 startups and scaleup companies.