Four STACK Innovations Recognized by the European Commission’s Innovation Radar
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The European Commission’s Innovation Radar is a platform that identifies high potential innovations emerging from EU funded research. This recognition highlights STACK’s strong contribution to advancing computational design, digital fabrication, sustainable construction, and logistics optimisation for freeform architecture.
“These recognitions show that the project is exactly where it should be at the 18 month milestone,” says Konstantinos Gavriil, Principal Investigator and Coordinator of STACK. “They confirm both the technological excellence and the future market relevance of our work.”
Design and optimization algorithm for surface rationalization with stackable elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS
This innovation introduces a robust design and optimisation algorithm that converts complex freeform surfaces into fabrication-ready, stackable elements. With a Business Ready maturity level, it is supported by business planning, market studies, and engagement with potential end users. The Innovation Radar assessment confirms that it addresses the needs of existing markets, signalling clear relevance for the architectural, engineering, and construction industries.
To reach full market deployment, next steps include market entry preparation, capital acquisition, and scaling up market opportunities.
Digital fabrication methodology for freeform stackable elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS and Zaha Hadid Architects
This methodology enables the precise and efficient digital fabrication of freeform stackable elements, supporting materialsmart and highly automated construction workflows. With an Exploring maturity level, the innovation is currently assessing value creation pathways and new application opportunities. Its Noteworthy Market Creation Potential signals strong relevance for emerging markets within digital construction and advanced fabrication ecosystems.
Key needs include preparing for market entry, securing capital, and developing scalable opportunities.
Logistics optimization algorithms for stackability and packing of freeform and linear elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS
This innovation delivers advanced logistics optimisation algorithms that improve the stacking, arranging, and packing of complex freeform and linear elements. By enhancing transport and storage efficiency, the algorithms support smoother workflows across construction and manufacturing supply chains—especially where irregular geometries pose significant logistical challenges.
Hot blade cutting with 3D elastica
Key Innovators: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)
This innovation explores the use of hot blade cutting techniques combined with 3D elastica to shape materials with high geometric precision and reduced waste. Assessed at the Exploring maturity level, it is actively investigating value creation opportunities and routes toward practical application. The Innovation Radar identifies Market Creation Potential, noting that it addresses the needs of existing markets and customer groups, reinforcing its relevance for innovative fabrication and architectural material processing.
With a market maturity level of Exploring, the innovation is in an early phase of assessing value creation pathways. Its High Market Creation Potential indicates strong and multiple signals that it can open substantial new market opportunities. Key needs include preparing market entry, securing capital, and scaling up market opportunities.
These Innovation Radar recognitions offer valuable direction as the project enters its next stage of refinement and validation and will play an important role in shaping the next stages of development. As STACK enters a phase of intensified collaboration with its Industrial Advisory Board, the insights gained from the Innovation Radar analyses will help guide strategic decisions on market positioning, technological maturation, and opportunities for industry uptake.
By providing independent assessments of market potential and readiness, the Innovation Radar results offer crucial input for aligning STACK’s research outcomes with real-world industrial needs, ensuring that the project evolves in close dialogue with stakeholders who will ultimately adopt and implement its innovations.
The European Commission’s Innovation Radar is a platform that identifies high potential innovations emerging from EU funded research. This recognition highlights STACK’s strong contribution to advancing computational design, digital fabrication, sustainable construction, and logistics optimisation for freeform architecture.
“These recognitions show that the project is exactly where it should be at the 18 month milestone,” says Konstantinos Gavriil, Principal Investigator and Coordinator of STACK. “They confirm both the technological excellence and the future market relevance of our work.”
Design and optimization algorithm for surface rationalization with stackable elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS
This innovation introduces a robust design and optimisation algorithm that converts complex freeform surfaces into fabrication-ready, stackable elements. With a Business Ready maturity level, it is supported by business planning, market studies, and engagement with potential end users. The Innovation Radar assessment confirms that it addresses the needs of existing markets, signalling clear relevance for the architectural, engineering, and construction industries.
To reach full market deployment, next steps include market entry preparation, capital acquisition, and scaling up market opportunities.
Digital fabrication methodology for freeform stackable elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS and Zaha Hadid Architects
This methodology enables the precise and efficient digital fabrication of freeform stackable elements, supporting materialsmart and highly automated construction workflows. With an Exploring maturity level, the innovation is currently assessing value creation pathways and new application opportunities. Its Noteworthy Market Creation Potential signals strong relevance for emerging markets within digital construction and advanced fabrication ecosystems.
Key needs include preparing for market entry, securing capital, and developing scalable opportunities.
Logistics optimization algorithms for stackability and packing of freeform and linear elements
Key Innovators: SINTEF AS
This innovation delivers advanced logistics optimisation algorithms that improve the stacking, arranging, and packing of complex freeform and linear elements. By enhancing transport and storage efficiency, the algorithms support smoother workflows across construction and manufacturing supply chains—especially where irregular geometries pose significant logistical challenges.
Hot blade cutting with 3D elastica
Key Innovators: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU)
This innovation explores the use of hot blade cutting techniques combined with 3D elastica to shape materials with high geometric precision and reduced waste. Assessed at the Exploring maturity level, it is actively investigating value creation opportunities and routes toward practical application. The Innovation Radar identifies Market Creation Potential, noting that it addresses the needs of existing markets and customer groups, reinforcing its relevance for innovative fabrication and architectural material processing.
With a market maturity level of Exploring, the innovation is in an early phase of assessing value creation pathways. Its High Market Creation Potential indicates strong and multiple signals that it can open substantial new market opportunities. Key needs include preparing market entry, securing capital, and scaling up market opportunities.
These Innovation Radar recognitions offer valuable direction as the project enters its next stage of refinement and validation and will play an important role in shaping the next stages of development. As STACK enters a phase of intensified collaboration with its Industrial Advisory Board, the insights gained from the Innovation Radar analyses will help guide strategic decisions on market positioning, technological maturation, and opportunities for industry uptake.
By providing independent assessments of market potential and readiness, the Innovation Radar results offer crucial input for aligning STACK’s research outcomes with real-world industrial needs, ensuring that the project evolves in close dialogue with stakeholders who will ultimately adopt and implement its innovations.
