The Tech4EU Construction Cluster gathered in Madrid for the BEEYONDERS Final Conference — a full-day event bringing together researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to showcase the results of years of collaborative innovation. A white paper co-produced by BEEYONDERS, InCUBE, RoBétArmé, and HUMANTECH was presented at the event, examining how innovative technologies can help break down gender-related barriers in the construction sector.
Held at the ACCIONA Campus, the conference was structured around two core themes: technology as an enabler of safer, less physically demanding work, and technology as a driver of a more diverse and inclusive workforce.
The morning featured two technology sessions. The first, “Technology as a Second Skin,” showcased exoskeletons (IIT/VTT), wearable sensors and real-time monitoring (STAM), and VR-based safety training (DTU). The second, “Smarter Automation, Safer Work,” covered aerial autonomous robots (CATEC), autonomous ground vehicles (ITA/TECNALIA), and additive manufacturing including 3D concrete printing (HOLCIM/COBOD/SEABOOST). Open tech corner stations throughout the day gave attendees hands-on time with the prototypes.
The afternoon centred on the presentation of “The Role of Innovative Technologies in Addressing Gender-Related Barriers in the Construction Sector”, drawing on survey evidence from 89 construction professionals across Europe. The foreword was co-authored by InCUBE Coordinator Dimosthenis Ioannidis (CERTH), BEEYONDERS Technical Coordinator José Carlos Jiménez Fernández (TECNALIA), and BEEYONDERS Coordinator Antonio Alonso Cepeda (ACCIONA).
When respondents described general challenges in the sector, they pointed primarily to organisational issues: limited career progression, opaque promotion systems, and insufficient training. But when the question narrowed to barriers specifically facing women, cultural barriers dominated — the persistent perception of construction as physically demanding and male-dominated, and the implicit biases that reinforce it. The paper’s conclusion is clear: technology can open doors, but cultural and organisational change must accompany it.
InCUBE’s technologies featured among the nine use cases analysed. The BIM-connected demolition robot was one of the most positively received — over 83% of respondents rated it as having a moderate to strong contribution to gender inclusion, recognising its role in reducing hazardous tasks and creating new roles in operation and supervision. UAV-based aerial photogrammetry (co-developed with BEEYONDERS) was seen as enabling new digital and technical roles that could attract a more diverse workforce. The digital twin platform (developed across BEEYONDERS, InCUBE, and RoBétArmé) was associated with stronger coordination and planning, with inclusive potential dependent on accessible training pathways. The PPE Monitoring System was valued for improving site safety, though its contribution to inclusion is more indirect.
Sustainable building renovation is not just about energy efficiency or digital tools — it is about the people who design, build, and maintain our built environment. The white paper’s recommendations align with InCUBE’s approach: embed inclusive design from the outset, ensure equitable access to upskilling, and make the visibility of emerging roles part of how we communicate our work.
We look forward to continued collaboration within the Tech4EU Construction Cluster. The future of construction must be both more advanced and more inclusive.
