How can research, development and innovation (R&D&I) be applied effectively to the circular economy in construction? 

Sorigue, one of Drastic’s Spanish Demonstrator partners, explored this key question at a recent round table panel delivered at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 in November. 

Hosted annually in Barcelona, the Smart City Expo World Congress is a highly influential event for cities and urban innovation that brings together a powerful ecosystem of leaders from global companies, governments and strategic organisations driving real change. 

The dynamic round table was moderated by Sol Ortega Navarro, Head of Corporate Communications at Sorigue, and welcomed the following subject experts to the panel: 

• Nigel Bax, R&D&I Project Technician in the Innovation Department, Sorigue
• Rosa Pérez Luna, Head of Prefabricated and Concrete, Sorigue
• Ricardo Vericat Martín, Director of Building Catalonia, Sorigue
• Nikola Tosic, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC), (fellow Drastic partner) 

The panel explored how innovation drives sustainability in the construction sector, specifically building construction, by promoting the efficient use of resources, waste valorisation (the process of reusing, recycling, composting, or converting waste into useful products), and circular design. 

Drastic was also presented, with the panel discussing how the project’s development and testing of new circular solutions and materials can help to reduce the sector's environmental impact and lead Europe towards more resilient and sustainable buildings. 

You can learn more about Drastic’s Spanish Demonstrator here