The game changers of tomorrow: 8 innovations at the 25th CFP Innovation Day (Boardroom)
During the 25th CFP Innovation Day, 16 innovators presented their solutions for the built environment. Spread across two rooms – Atelier and Boardroom – they pitched their ideas to an audience of real estate professionals, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers.
In this article, we take you to the Boardroom, where eight pitchers shared their innovations. From circular materials and digital platforms to AI and behavioural change, these are the ideas that took centre stage.
Curious what happened in the other room? Read the recap from the Atelier here.
From idea to impact
A ‘perfect storm’ – that is where we find ourselves, according to Chief Operations Officer Jarno Schimmelpennink. “Technological developments are accelerating rapidly, while the urgency to improve energy efficiency is only increasing. At the same time, there is resistance. Due to complexity, lack of trust or experience. And that is exactly where advisors and real estate professionals have an important role to play. It’s great that today we can connect them with innovators.”
Jorn van Strien, Director at Inventum Technologies, reinforced this from a practical perspective. As a manufacturer of heat pumps and boilers, now in its eighth generation, he sees how much work still lies ahead. “With fewer than one million fully operational heating heat pumps in Dutch homes, there is a huge opportunity to improve energy efficiency.”
This challenge was reflected in the pitches, where innovations ranged from biobased insulation materials and smart glazing solutions to data-driven insights in real estate and AI-powered decision-making. They showed one thing clearly: acceleration will not come from a single solution.
1. VR – Tessel Koopal – PwC
PwC supports organisations worldwide with strategy, consultancy and technology challenges. Tessel Koopal demonstrated that sustainability only truly lands when it can be experienced. “Through virtual reality, abstract themes become tangible: users walk through natural environments and immediately see the impact of climate change on ecosystems. This turns sustainability from a report into an experience.”
The value lies in closing the gap between theory and reality. Especially in areas such as finance and procurement, where impact often remains abstract, this approach creates urgency and engagement. The result: better decision-making, because people truly understand what is at stake.
2. Biobased insulation – Pablo Outón – Indresmat
Indresmat develops biobased materials for the construction sector, with a focus on sustainable insulation. Pablo Outón presented a biobased alternative to traditional insulation materials: polyurethanes based on natural oils. These materials consist of 60 to 75 per cent renewable resources and reduce the carbon footprint by up to 60 per cent.
“The strength of this solution lies in its scalability and applicability. With dozens of projects and hundreds of applications in windows and façades, we show that circular construction is no longer a niche.” It offers real estate stakeholders a practical way to accelerate the improvement of energy performance in existing buildings.
3. Sustainable real estate risk analysis – Anirudh Valluri – Jungle Systems
Jungle Systems develops data platforms to provide insight into non-financial risks. Anirudh Valluri showed how regulation, geopolitics and market dynamics are increasingly impacting real estate. The Jungle Systems platform analyses these risks and reveals where the real vulnerabilities in a portfolio lie.
Its value is strategic insight. For example, by predicting which buildings may become unfinanceable before 2030, investors and asset owners can act in time. “Real estate decisions are largely driven by regulatory changes, which is why we take that as our starting point.” This turns data into a steering mechanism for future-proof investment.
From waste to resource – Marius van der Werff – Plastic Whale
Plastic Whale is a social enterprise that collects plastic waste from waterways and repurposes it. Marius van der Werff brought their mission to life: turning plastic waste into valuable products. What started as an initiative to build boats from canal plastic has grown into a movement where waste is transformed into circular office furniture.
The value lies in activation. Plastic Whale proves that behavioural change starts with action. By literally involving people in collecting and processing waste, a sense of ownership is created. Organisations can book a Cleanup to make a social impact with their teams. With the Dutch Cleanup Challenge, this impact is now scaling nationally. The long-term vision: is it possible to construct a building from plastic?
5. The value of nature – Ramon Scholl – Bax Company
Bax Company advises on sustainable area development and the economic valuation of nature. Ramon Scholl posed a fundamental question: “What is nature actually worth?”
With the ESE-ROI model (Environmental, Social & Economic Return on Investment), the societal and economic value of nature-based investments becomes measurable.
“The strength lies in translating soft values into hard data,” he explained. “By including effects such as health, climate adaptation and energy savings, you create a more complete investment picture.” This enables governments and developers to make better, future-oriented decisions.
6. A digital ID for every building – Bram Adema – NXTBLDNG
NXTBLDNG is a data platform that provides buildings with a unique digital identity. Bram Adema highlighted a familiar challenge: “Reliable real estate data is often fragmented or missing. NXTBLDNG changes that by giving buildings a digital ‘ID’, linked to validated data from multiple sources.”
The value for scalable improvement in energy performance is significant. “Banks, governments and energy companies finally gain insight into their portfolios. This makes it possible to actively manage aspects such as energy labels or renovation strategies.”
7. AI that works – Jochem van Laren – Spaik
Spaik helps organisations in the built environment implement AI. Jochem van Laren cut through the hype: 80 per cent of AI initiatives fail. The key? Not the technology, but how it is applied and adopted within organisations. Spaik therefore focuses on culture, skills and concrete use cases.
“The impact is immediately visible,” Jochem explained. He shared a practical example:
“For asset managers, analyses that used to take weeks can now be completed within an hour. That makes AI not only innovative, but truly practical and valuable.”
8. Smart, dimmable glass – Remco Veenbrink – Signilux (VideowindoW)
Remco Veenbrink presented an innovative solution to a frequently underestimated issue: solar shading. Instead of traditional ‘binary’ systems, Signilux introduces digitally dimmable glass with a pixelated layer.
The value lies in both comfort and performance. Users retain their view outside, while heat and light are optimally regulated. “With an ROI of less than one year in high-traffic locations, this is an innovation that quickly pays for itself.”
On the verge of acceleration
Innovation Day 2026 showed that the built environment is on the verge of acceleration. The common thread across all pitches: the solutions already exist. The challenge is no longer invention, but implementation and scaling. This is where the real opportunity lies for the sector to move forward.
This was reinforced during the awards ceremony, where VideowindoW’s digital shading solution was selected as the winner by participants. A clear confirmation: the future is not something that is coming – it has already begun.
The pitches in the Boardroom made one thing clear: the solutions are already here. The challenge now lies in scaling and implementation.
Curious about the other 8 pitches? Read the recap from the Atelier.
Or read more about the CFP Innovation Day.
