Sto Foundation Launches New Funding Programme for Research in the Built Environment

The challenges facing the construction sector continue to grow. Climate change, resource scarcity, increasing demands on buildings and infrastructure, and the emergence of new materials all require solutions that go beyond established approaches. With Explore! Advancing the Future of Building, the Sto Foundation aims to foster exactly this kind of innovation. The programme is open to individuals and teams engaged in research on the built environment who seek to translate new knowledge into practice. At its core are research projects supported by rigorous scientific methodologies and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The Foundation developed Explore! in response to the growing need for targeted research in the transformation of the construction sector. Many of the questions associated with sustainable and future-oriented building practices can only be addressed through dedicated research efforts. Eligible topics range from the development of novel materials and innovative manufacturing and construction methods to studies on energy optimisation in buildings. Projects focusing on the refurbishment and preservation of existing building stock, digital planning processes, or the integration of craftsmanship, design, and research are also encouraged.

“At the heart of the programme is the curiosity to ask questions, develop ideas further, and transform them into practical solutions,” says Prof. Ralf Pasel, Member of the Foundation Council for Architecture. “Explore! builds upon and expands our existing funding activities in architecture and craftsmanship by adding the essential component of interdisciplinary research. In doing so, we create opportunities for exchange, experimentation, and new impulses.”

Advancing the Future of Building Together

Explore! builds on the experience gained through the Foundation’s previous DesignBuild Research initiative, which is rooted in architectural research and primarily supports emerging academics and researchers. The new programme views construction as a collaborative endeavour and therefore addresses a broad spectrum of disciplines across both academia and practice.

Eligible applicants include professionals and researchers in architecture, interior architecture, civil and structural engineering, building physics, building chemistry, and building biology. The programme also welcomes contributions from physics, chemical engineering, bioengineering, research institutes, and materials science organisations. In addition, skilled craftspeople, technicians, and master tradespeople from the finishing and construction sectors are encouraged to participate.

Through this approach, the Foundation seeks to bring together diverse expertise and perspectives. Research should not end at disciplinary boundaries; rather, innovation often emerges where different fields collaborate and learn from one another.

Bridging Theory and Practice

This philosophy reflects the Sto Foundation’s mission. Since its establishment, the Foundation has supported talent in architecture and the skilled trades. Explore! now complements these funding areas by strengthening interdisciplinary research and reinforcing the connection between theoretical knowledge and practical experience.

Through the programme, the Foundation’s founding family aims to engage new communities and foster a network in which research institutions, universities, and industry partners can work together to develop solutions for the future of construction.

For the 2026 call, a total funding volume of €80,000 is available. The programme provides a framework that enables ambitious research projects while offering sufficient flexibility to accommodate diverse research approaches. Those who seek to rethink construction and contribute to the future of the built environment will find in Explore! a platform that supports innovation and opens new perspectives.

For more information about the programme, please visit the Explore! Webpage: Explore! – Research Funding for the Built Environment | Sto Foundation - en