BACKGROUND AND IMPACTThe raw materials present on the planet are a finite, limited and, in many cases, non-renewable resource, which is why the current consumption model is destroying many of these resources. For this reason, investment in research is necessary and, in this way, new production models should be promoted, if possible, based on the revaluation and reuse of industrial waste, encouraging the study and search for new markets for these recovered resources, considered as waste. In this way, industries are encouraged to adapt to the circular economy model with the environmental, social and economic advantages so necessary for our planet.Traditionally, the productive model that has sustained the system of growth of our society has been based on the use of the different available resources that, after their transformation within the production chain and their subsequent incorporation into the consumption chain, lost their resource condition to become waste, whose inevitable destination was the landfill. Hence the conception of a linear economy that prevails in today's productive industry.The main problems underlying this linear system are the commitment to the capacity to assimilate resources, with the consequent pollution, the accumulation of waste without use, the exploitation of renewable resources exceeding the renewal rate and the exhaustion of non-renewable resources due to their intensive consumption.The unsustainability of the current linear model imposed as the dominant pattern of economic development, requires progress towards the implementation of a growth model that optimizes the use of available resources and materials while retaining their value in the system for as long as possible, the circular economy.To this end, waste management plays a crucial role in the circular economy. The way waste is managed can lead to high recycling rates and the return of valuable materials to the economy, or on the contrary to an inefficient system in which most recyclable waste ends up in landfills or is incinerated, with potentially damaging effects on the environment and significant economic losses.Understanding that the waste generated during a production process, or due to the exhaustion of the useful life of a product is a potential resource, is one of the fundamental keys to initiating the transition process.According to the latest data provided by the EC on the circular economy, waste avoidance, eco-design, reuse and similar measures could provide EU companies with savings of 8% of annual turnover while reducing total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2-4%.Furthermore, BIM use can change the work mode of architects and engineers. This tool is able to show a three-dimensional design from the beginning of the project and it provide information about each element that compose the project. It is a help to make easier the design, construction and the operation of a building project.The idea of this project is to add all in a single software called CircularBIM. Which is an Open Educational Resource where you can find information about: ecological construction details, techniques for the use and reuse of construction materials, reduction of waste… In addition to this, you can access to a free software to practice and obtain construction techniques that facilitate the reuse of the materials used in buildings.In conclusion, what we attempt to do is unify BIM and techniques for the revalorisation and reuse of construction materials to create an useful tool where students and professionals of AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) industry will be able to make aware about it as far as possible and implement in their daily work.OBJECTIVESTo contribute to overcome the situation described above, the main objectives are:• Increasing the awareness about the circular economy in construction sector.• Teaching to reduce waste generation of construction materials.• Reduce waste from the construction sector by reincorporating it into the value chain.• Provide information on the possibility of revaluation of each element.• Free access to a free software for the consultation and use of the techniques or methods of reuse of building materials, also in BIM format.• Involve professionals and students in new technologies such as BIM applications.PRODUCTS• Open Educational Resource. • Establishment of common learning outcomes on placing methods based on circular economy criteria, life cycle assessment (LCA) and relative regulations.• Developing a new interactive BIM-learning method for Circular Economy.• IT production of integrated training materials.CONSORTIUMThe consortium count on a highly qualified staff, who have already carried out other European projects successfully, due to their knowledge in the following fields, basic for this project:• Circular economy.• BIM technologies.• Develop of training materials and ITC based tools.• Experience in coordination of ERASMUS+ project.

BACKGROUNDThe construction sector is a sector in continuous updating due to the integration of new technologies for the design of projects and the incorporation of environmental considerations of construction materials. This incessant and rapid modernisation of the labour system requires constant and continuous training of the professionals in the sector, most of whom have professional careers of more than 20 years' experience. In Europe there are 600,000 architects, 64% of whom are over 40 years old.In recent years there has been a large decline in the number of architects working independently, in favour of an increase in work in companies and firms. The percentage of architects practising individually has fallen by up to 50% in the last decade. These tendencies suggest that architects are returning to a paid employment in the practice, instead of free exercise, assuming that they will have to adapt to the design systems established in the companies, much more prone to modernization and integration of innovative methodologies, complicating the incorporation of professionals with extensive experience whose training does not fit the current design tools.The environmental profile is an increasingly important criterion for public and private procurement and for consumer choice. Companies and professionals have various mechanisms for accrediting and communicating the environmental excellence of their products and services, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These EPDs provide a reliable, relevant, transparent, comparable and verifiable environmental profile that allows an environmentally friendly product to stand out, based on LCA according to international standards and quantified environmental data.Life Cycle Thinking implies a form of global analysis that not only includes the traditional parameters, but also considering all the processes that take place throughout its life cycle (from the cradle to the grave). In this way, the hidden impacts surface and the transfer of loads is avoided; Helping to make decisions and identify options.Institutions such as the United Nations Environment Program (through the UNEP-SETAC Life Cycle Initiative) or the European Commission (through the European Platform for LCA) promote its application for the environmental improvement of products and processes in all sectors, including construction.OBJECTIVESThe BIMEPD project is, in its nature, the production and development of multimedia materials based on BIM and taking into account challenges related to LCA and EPDs of construction materials, to be used as training material for both adult education for professionals in the architecture sector, in order to satisfy a series of main objectives.PARTICIPANTS-Architects who are low or intermediate skilled in BIM and EPD, who need to improve their skills for professional growth and to get more chances to find a new job or keep their job.-SMEs of the construction sector willing to improve their competitiveness.-Employment centres dealing with updating of skills and active labour market policies.-Universities and VET.-Architecture and engineering companies.PRODUCTSThe main results of the project are:01. Establishment of common learning outcomes adapted to adults on BIM technologies and EPDs.02. BIMEPD Multimedia Materials. New Interactive BIM-Learning Application for adults based on ecological challenges.03. BIMEPD Open Educational Resource (OER).RESULTSAs a consequence, the BIMEPD project will deepen the transversely of BIM technologies in the concept of sustainable construction on a professional level, taking advantage of the flow of knowledge in construction in these models and will develop a learning methodology adapted to the needs of a professional generation who are at risk of exclusion from the labour market due to lack of qualification in emerging design and control technologies.To this end, the tangible results of this project will be:-To define the competences and skills of architects in the current training systems and of professionals over 45 years old in the labour market, in relation to BIM technologies and EPDs.-Determine the most appropriate teaching methods and the system/process of assessment for adult learning on BIM and EPD.-To design a qualification curriculum adapted to adults for continuing education courses for architects that includes the latest technologies and environmental challenges, which fit perfectly with the current IT-based information methodology.-To provide professionals in the sector with an innovative digital tool, which combines the complete BIM methodology for building design with the different variables that determine the environmental impacts of the building.-Providing professionals with innovative and interactive resources, in order to digitise the content required in their training in BIM technologies and EPDs to achieve a much more complete qualification based excellence.

CONTEXTThe Stone sector represents a worldwide increasing market. Within the European Union around 60,000 small and medium sized businesses work with ornamental stone in all aspects. This comprises a work force of more than 500,000 people engaged in and around ornamental stone industry with strong economic and social impacts at regional levels. This sector represents a worldwide highly increasing market where European production reaches approximately 35% with a total turnover of about 24 billion €. Nevertheless, know how is exported not only in the stone quarry business, including the closely associated high tech machinery where Europe has a leading position in the world market, but as well as all forms of modern applications of stone.However, the female workers are in a minority in the whole value chain of this industry due to lack of a gender integration, where the rate of feminization is only 7.25% at European level (source: Cluster Piedra):- Barriers among colleagues: In a mainly male sector, it is not well seen by traditional society.- Intrinsic barriers: It is thought that jobs in stone sector require brute strength and it cannot be carried out by women, but it is incorrect, because, currently, it is a sector that highly uses machinery.- Labour market barriers: Women think they do not have any possibility to work in this sector, because they do not have a positive mentality about their abilities to carry out the tasks of this sector or because they think that they do not have equal opportunities. But this mindset has to change.OBJECTIVES AND TARGET GROUPSOne of the challenges facing the 21st century stone sector is to highlight the issues of gender equity and female labour participation in a sector in which it must have an increasing presence. WinSTONE project claims that it is possible women integration in the whole chain value of stone sector, that is, provide resources and opportunities to recruit, retain, and advance, women in the stone industry.For that reason, this project will be focused on the following target groups:- Women -both at risk of exclusion, as young and over 45- (60);- VET centres (10) and vocational training teachers (150);- and entrepreneurs of the stone sector (50).In summary, WinSTONE will become a resource for women to broaden their perspective (personal) through meaningful strategic connections at any level of their career, so they can reach their full potential and accelerate or enhance their career growth. Therefore, the objectives of the project will be:- Expand on existing educational offerings.- Increase peer-networking opportunities by coordinating venues to connect and learn.- Develop a system of support and mentorship with other women in the industry. - Create opportunities for women to serve on key industry jobs.- Recognize emerging & experienced women who excel in the industry.- Create awareness of opportunities and career paths available to women considering careers in the stone industry.- Work with the WinSTONE Board of Directors and other committees and associations to achieve these goals.PRODUCTS AND METHODOLOGYIn order to achieve those objectives, the methodology of the project will be focused on main beneficiaries will participate directly in the activities (women) as well as stakeholders (VET centres and entrepreneurs), where the main products of the project will be:O1. Needs analysis report about gender equality in the stone sector of each participant country.O2. Establishment of common learning outcomes focused on opening gates for Women IN the Stone sector.O3. WinSTONE Open Educational Resource (OER).O4. Production of WinSTONE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC).O5. Implementation of Vertical Action Plan in the stone sector.IMPACTDNV (Deutscher Naturwerkstein-Verband E.V) decided to start a project to promote integration of women in stone sector across Europe, and got in contact with CTM (Asociación Empresarial y de Investigación Centro Tecnológico del Mármol, Piedra y Materiales), NTUA (National Technical University of Athens), iED (Institute of Entrepreneurship Development) and KSK (Klesarska Skola), which are organisations with a wide experience in coordinating EU projects in these fields. The consortium, as a whole, has the biggest competences in develop suitable training materials for stone sector from a gender perspective, being aware of the importance of them represent the main European stone products areas and, then, the most comprehensive knowledge about this matter. Finally, the partners of the project come from different countries with a broad tradition on natural stone, where all partners have close cooperation with entrepreneurs, universities and VET providers.

ROTATE's ambition is to tap the full potential of minerals extraction and processing in a sustainable and ecological way, developing the needed technologies and tools for achieving zero emissions and pollution for essential and critical raw materials obtention and ensuring a circular approach by implementing mechanisms for waste valorisation in the context of industrial symbiosis, especially reusing waste as aggregates for the construction sector and also recovering secondary products. ROTATE'S GENERAL OBJECTIVE is to achieve a near zero emissions and pollution obtention of raw materials, providing new tools for the mining industry in its journey to a more sustainable and green mineral extraction. The solutions proposed in the project will allow to improve the cut-off grade while reducing the environmental footprint of the whole process. The pilot demonstrations in mineral deposits with different paragenetic (minerals occurring together in a rock, formed by the same genetic process during the same stage) profiles will ensure the replication of the technologies to a wide variety of mining sites. To ensure EU?s lead on Critical Raw Materials access, the project is structured in three main interconnected PILLARS providing technical solutions and three transversal FLOORS covering cross cutting issues, including clustering and social acceptance. A series of technical Project Results of Pillars [PRP] and Project Results of Floors [PRF] will be delivered within the ROTATE's framework. ROTATE's will deliver specific methods and/or technologies aiming to overcome the reluctance of social agents to the exploitation of CRM deposits thanks to the environmental impact reduction achieved. This will result in an increase of the CRM sites that could be exploited in a future, boosting the access of EU to strategic CRM and enabling the development of the Renewables, e-mobility and Defence & Space sectors.