The New European Bauhaus Academy (NEBA), a European Commission flagship launched in November 2022, trains architecture, construction, and engineering professionals in sustainable practices. Announced by Ursula von der Leyen in Finland, it targets upskilling for a shift from fossil-based to circular, bio-based systems, addressing gaps in bio-materials, digital tools, and circularity across the sector's value chain.
Headquartered near Brussels—site of its April 2024 Alliance kickoff at the NEB Festival—NEBA coordinates 14 partners from 11 countries, forming four initial hubs: North (RISE Sweden, Aalto University, Estonian Academy of Arts), South (IAAC Spain, CESEFOR Italy), Berlin-Brandenburg (Bauhaus Earth, TU Berlin, HNEE), and Pioneer (University of Primorska Slovenia, others). An Outreach Hub handles EU-wide communication.
By October 2024, hubs launched with Memorandums of Understanding, offering online/offline courses from awareness to certifications. A central portal curates validated modules on topics like wood reuse and low-carbon design. Funded under Horizon Europe (grant 101160532, 2024-2026), it plans an open call in February 2025 for expansion. Commissioners Ivanova and Ferreira have endorsed it for tackling labor shortages in green construction. (198 words)