The European GROUNDBREAKERS Challenge (EGC) is your chance to break through with your nature-based building solution – win €100,000 to bring your idea to life around IBA’27 in Stuttgart. By bridging nature, technology, and construction, EGC empowers European startups to shape a sustainable urban future – where cities and nature grow together.
Imagine a world where buildings do not just stand tall but breathe, adapt, and give back. A place where nature breaks through and turns urban spaces into climate-resilient ecosystems. That is what the European GROUNDBREAKERS Challenge (EGC) is all about.
Nearly 40% of global CO₂ emissions come from construction – yet traditional approaches too often work against nature rather than with it. That is an urgent challenge that demands groundbreaking, scalable, and climate-adaptive innovations. Nature-based solutions can reduce heat, improve air and water quality, strengthen resistance to weather extremes, and bring nature back into cities – transforming how we build and live.
EGC is looking for your innovation that breaks conventions and rethinks what is possible – like green façades that clean the air, sponge city systems that manage rainwater naturally, or bio-based materials that reduce carbon footprints. What matters is innovation not only in materials or design – but in how we build and bring ideas to market. That is why EGC is calling for solutions backed by viable business models. As a European startup in nature-based construction solutions, you are a key player in climate-resilient transformation and the building revolution, helping cities thrive and improving urban wellbeing.
EGC is not just another award: It is your chance to break through – powered by nature. As Germany’s leading start-up alliance in construction, GROUNDBREAKERS is connected to industry leaders and creates real-world implementation opportunities. In the European GROUNDBREAKERS Challenge, your prototype can prove its showcase potential – transforming buildings and their surrounding spaces (e.g. adjacent buildings, parking areas, backyards) by turning nature into tech. Whether you are a student team or a seasoned start-up: If your solution is ready to prove itself and your vision scalable, then this challenge is for you.
With €100,000 in funding and unmatched visibility for the winning solution, you can turn your vision into real impact. Your idea will not just stay in the lab – you will bring it to life around IBA’27 in Stuttgart. As the heart of the German construction industry, Stuttgart is the place to be for start-ups in building constructions, and home to many renowned companies that work both nationally and internationally. There is never only one solution to global challenges: That is why beyond the winning team, up to 10 additional solutions will receive recognition, pilot opportunities, and industry connections that open doors to the market.
GROUNDBREAKERS is an initiative by HFT Stuttgart, the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), and the Fraunhofer IAO. The aim of the initiative is to connect start-ups with companies in the construction and real estate sectors – to help green ideas break through. The European GROUNDBREAKERS Challenge (EGC) is hosted by HFT Stuttgart, which brings strong expertise and a broad network in the field of nature-based and sustainable building.
The challenge is made possible through funding from the Climate Innovation Fund of the City of Stuttgart.
GROUNDBREAKERS’ call for solutions: Submit your idea by September 30. Join the EGC and prove that nature is the solution—powered by your innovation. Your idea can be the breakthrough the world is waiting for!
Contact: Elena Schön (challenge(at)groundbreakers.io)