Contemporary engineering and urban planning face unprecedented challenges. The green transition, decarbonisation targets set by the European Union, and the need to adapt cities to rapidly changing climate conditions require a complete rethink of current design methods and building standards.
During INNOBuild 2026, Bialystok University of Technology demonstrated that it is not only an observer of these processes, but also an institution that anticipates challenges, integrates the academic community into a shared discussion, and actively engages in environmentally focused research and development.
Global challenges, international perspective
The INNOBuild 2026 conference combined an academic perspective with the experience of business practitioners, urban planners and climate diplomacy experts.
– INNOBuild 2026 addresses the challenges of today’s world – emphasised Assoc. Prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng., Vice-Rector for International Cooperation at BUT and main organiser of the event. – Climate change, decarbonisation targets set by the European Union, as well as global challenges related to the structure of available fuels – these are the issues we want to discuss. Our goal is to design buildings of the future that are energy-efficient but also provide users with thermal comfort, good indoor air quality and what is commonly referred to today as well-being.
The scale of the event – around 130 participants from many countries (both on-site and online) – confirmed Bialystok University of Technology’s position as a research centre capable of bringing together an international community around the idea of sustainable development.
This was also acknowledged by Paulina Anna Siwik, urban planner and Ambassador of the European Climate Pact, who took part in INNOBuild 2026.
– Such meetings, conferences and pro-climate events are essential for spreading knowledge about climate change, risks and mitigation measures so that we can effectively protect our planet – she said. – Most universities should permanently include such initiatives in their strategies.
People at the centre of architecture
A key highlight of INNOBuild 2026 was the keynote lecture by Prof. Paweł Wargocki from the Technical University of Denmark, a renowned international expert in indoor environmental quality assessment. His groundbreaking research has demonstrated the direct impact of air pollution and indoor microclimates on comfort, health and productivity. He has served, among others, as President of the International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) and Chair of the Environmental Health Committee at ASHRAE. His scientific output includes hundreds of publications that form the foundation of modern building design.
The presence of Prof. Paweł Wargocki at Bialystok University of Technology, initiated by Assoc. Prof. Dorota Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng. (who developed related research topics during her scholarship at the University of Bologna), gave the conference a strong academic profile.
In his lecture, Prof. Wargocki drew attention to a critical but often overlooked aspect of the energy transition – the fact that modern buildings must remain environments designed for people.
– In a world where we are discussing major challenges related to buildings, which – as we know – have a significant impact on our carbon footprint, we must also remember that buildings are our new habitat. This is our new ecosystem, where people spend the vast majority of their time. People are, in fact, the main reason buildings are constructed – he reminded.
The expert also offered a striking warning:
– Today we know very well that buildings have a major impact on how we live and how long we live. Indoor air quality is a silent thief of time. If it is poor or inadequate, every day we may lose a minute or even an hour of our lives due to exposure. We must make society and decision-makers aware that this is a very serious issue – he stressed.
Bialystok University of Technology in global research trends
The INNOBuild conference was not only a space for theoretical discussion. It also provided an opportunity to present the contribution of Bialystok University of Technology researchers to global science.
The research team from the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences at BUT has been conducting regular studies on indoor air quality in public buildings for years – including on campus, as well as in schools and kindergartens in Białystok.
The findings are highly relevant to modern construction practice. They show that widespread deep energy retrofitting of buildings (such as sealing windows and walls) without implementing efficient ventilation systems significantly reduces indoor environmental quality, affecting both children in schools and adults at work. Bialystok University of Technology not only diagnoses these problems but also actively seeks engineering solutions.
The INNOBuild generation
One of the key values of the INNOBuild conference is creating a space for the exchange of experience and for passing knowledge and responsibility for a sustainable environment to the next generation of engineers. Poster sessions and presentations of student and doctoral projects formed a vibrant part of the event.
Young researchers from Bialystok University of Technology and partner universities presented fresh perspectives on decarbonisation, renewable energy use and future technologies. This scientific contribution creates the unique atmosphere of the conference, as emphasised by Prof. Wargocki.
– The very fact that I was invited to this conference, and that the concept of a healthy building appears in its title, shows that this issue is important – he said. – Through education, Bialystok University of Technology can significantly influence how young engineers will perceive indoor environmental quality in buildings. It is crucial that they do not forget that buildings are not empty boxes.
INNOBuild in the future
INNOBuild at Bialystok University of Technology has become established in the academic calendar as an event of great potential, based on authority, rigorous research and concern for the climate.
– INNOBuild is a place where engineering precision meets a visionary approach to ecology. We want the exchange of knowledge between architects, engineers and energy managers to result in projects that will serve future generations – the organisers emphasise.
The thematic directions outlined in 2026 – from energy systems and building renovation technologies, through technical building systems, to integrated design strategies promoting sustainability and addressing user comfort and health – will undoubtedly form the programme foundation for future editions of the event.
Visit the INNOBuild 2026 Conference website
See photos from the INNOBuild Conference, which took place on 20–22 May 2026 at the Centre for Modern Education of Bialystok University of Technology and the Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
INNOBuild 2026 – INNOvations in BUILDing Decarbonization and Energy Systems
Organisers: Bialystok University of Technology; Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology; Department of International Projects Erasmus+ and NAWA
Conference Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dorota Anna Krawczyk, DSc, PhD, Eng. (Vice-Rector for International Cooperation, Bialystok University of Technology)
Co-Chair (Scientific): Prof. Eugenia Rossi di Schio (University of Bologna)
Co-Chair (Organisational): Agata Dziekońska, MSc Eng. (Head of the Department of Mobility and International Agreements, Bialystok University of Technology)
Secretary: Anna Werner-Juszczuk, PhD Eng. (Department of Sustainable Construction and Building Installations, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Environmental Sciences, Bialystok University of Technology)
The conference is co-financed by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) under the project “Together towards excellence – Bialystok University of Technology in the activities of the Across-PB alliance”. The project is funded by the European Union under the European Social Fund Plus 2021–2027 (ESF+) within the NAWA project “Support for European Universities Alliances”, project number FERS.01.05-IP.08-0219/23.
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