Build.ing makes construction more efficient and sustainable

A new platform developed at UPTEC – the University of Porto Science and Technology Park – build.ing promises to make construction more efficient and sustainable.

The startup was co-founded in 2023 by Elias Silva. Using artificial intelligence building.ing claims to reduce more than 15% of construction costs, 50% of incorporated carbon, and speed up the time it takes to complete projects by 100 times – all of this by using less material.

According to OneClickLCA, building construction in cities around the world will double by 2060. When the sector is already responsible for 39% of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company and it is not difficult to work out the impact that this development will have on the planet.

On the other hand, increasing productivity in the sector by 1% enables savings of US$100Bn per year.

To respond to the most pressing needs of the construction sector and, at the same time, help reduce its carbon footprint, build.ing was born, the startup incubated at UPTEC that won the Born from Knowledge (BfK) Awards, awarded by the National Innovation Agency (Ani), as part of the 2nd Edition of the ACA Innovation Challenge.

Build.ing aims to combat the fragmentation of the current construction process, integrating architecture and engineering so that projects, when designed integrally, take into account different realistic scenarios, focusing on reducing carbon emissions, building materials, cost and time.
Last year, build.ing was the only Portuguese company to participate in the continental final of ClimateLaunchPad 2023, the world’s largest climate technology competition. With the freemium version already launched, the start up plans to launch the paid version in December this year, immediately starting its internationalisation efforts.