Key position for White when the EU invests in research on digital design

Key position for White when the EU invests in research on digital design

Feb 4, 2015  | Architecture 

Key position for White when the EU invests in research on digital design
(Photo by: Thomas Zaar)

White arkitekter and the KTH School of Architecture gets key positions in the international research network Innochain that will develop new digital design methods. The EU invests 4 million Euro in a consortium with 15 new PhD positions at leading universities in Europe.

Innochain (Building Innovation in the Extended Digital Chain) is an interdisciplinary network that links research institutions with professional practice from architecture, engineering, design software development and fabrication. Six European research institutions and 14 leading practices from Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and the UK joins forces under the Horizon 2020 programme, in order to examine how advanced digital design tools can positively challenge future building culture, enabling more sustainable, better informed and materially smarter design solutions.

- With InnoChain, we will be able to provide young researchers and specialists in digital design the opportunity to develop new knowledge in relation to real architectural commissions. Furthermore, White will be able to contribute to the European research agenda for applied digital design. The collaboration also strengthens our own research and development, says Jonas Runberger, architect at White and Adjunct Professor at KTH.

The pioneering network has recently received a EUR 4 million Euro grant from the EU’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme under Horizon 2020 and will include 15 new doctoral projects within the fields of architecture and engineering. The doctoral researchers will be enrolled at the partner research institutions and InnoChain’s 14 industry partners will offer hands-on experience, exposing them to the applied reality of situated research and development across the digital chain. 

The consortium also includes a programme of joint research events, including workshop-seminars, colloquia, a summer school and research courses. The project is led by Mette Ramsgaard Thomsen, Professor at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen.

- The Innochain project collates outstanding research competence in the field of digital design innovation. White provides an innovative research environment as well as an advanced architecture practise, in close relation to academic networks, says Malin Zimm, Director of Research and Development at White.

Via White
Image,video ©: White/Thomas Zaar