Research Team Won EU TalentOn Competition Prize
The Block2City team developed a platform using building data to assist property owners with sustainable renovation.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Remote Work
In September 2026, the Block2City team of researchers secured the first prize of €8,000 at the EU TalentOn event in Brest, France. The initiative uses complex building data to help property owners navigate the challenges of sustainable renovation.
Why it matters
As regulatory pressure for building energy efficiency increases, business owners and property managers require accessible ways to interpret asset data. This project highlights a emerging focus on translating raw facility information into actionable renovation strategies.
The Block2City team of four researchers earned an €8,000 first-prize award among a field of 100 early-career participants from 43 different nationalities. The team competed to address challenges within the five EU Missions under the Horizon Europe framework.
The players
Dr. Samar Momin
A research assistant at Atlantic Technological University who served on the winning Block2City team.
Atlantic Technological University
A higher education institution with campuses in Ireland, including Galway, that supports research in technology and building systems.
The details
The Block2City team utilized the EU TalentOn event to refine their concept through a structured process of ideation, validation, and formal business modeling. Their winning pitch centers on a system that harvests disparate building data points to provide property owners with specific, practical renovation paths. This approach mirrors a growing need for automated data analysis to manage facility upgrades and compliance with sustainability mandates.
Timeline
September 7-11, 2026: EU TalentOn 2026 took place in Brest, France.
Market Landscape
This project aligns with the research and development objectives established by the EU Horizon Europe mission challenges. It marks a broader industry trend of applying data-driven modelling to meet strict sustainability requirements for existing property portfolios.
Property owners should monitor how building-data platforms evolve to simplify the costly process of energy-efficient renovation. Tracking these tools can help operators determine when to automate building audits to meet emerging efficiency standards.
The takeaway
The successful application of data modeling to property renovation suggests that technical insights will soon become central to asset management. Operators should begin by cataloging their building data to ensure they are prepared for future digital integration.
Further reading
Learn more about the intersection of technology and facilities management in our Remote Work section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Atlantic Technological University.
