SHIFT:SPACE - with a focus on the construction sector

Green Innovation Park at the SLU campus south of Uppsala will provide a physical space for SHIFT:SPACE, a transition lab is set up with Uppsala:2030 as project leader. It will provide an opportunity to connect researchers, companies and societal actors to jointly address sustainability challenges.

The first focus is on the construction industry and the quest for a more circular and environmental friendly use of resources. This pioneering project was started with a catalyst grant from UUniCORN to Christine Holmström Lind and David Freund at the Department of Business Studies. With the intention to study the goal conflicts that arise between companies strive for sustainability and the need for economic resilience they got in contact with Uppsala:2030 and ByggConstruct, a local family-owned construction company. An initial workshop was held together with the company and their sub-contractors to brainstorm and identify goal conflicts that hinder a transition to more sustainable practices. As an outcome of this workshop a debate article highlighting the need to address goal conflicts has been published.

The construction sector is facing one of its biggest transformations ever. Demands for fossil-free, resource efficiency and circular flows are growing rapidly, and the industry is expected to deliver on all fronts simultaneously.

As part of the process, Pia Anderson, the founder of Uppsala:2030 who had facilitated the contacts with ByggConstruct came in contact with Akademiska Hus and their facilities in Green Innovation Park. The idea of a transition lab was born with the construction industry as a pilot project. The idea is to bring together business, societal actors and academia to together address pracitcally oriented sustainability challenges through a facilited process. Upcoming themes within SHIFT:SPACE are mental health and mobility.