On the 4th and 5th of November 2025, the ShieldBot consortium gathered in person for the first time at the facilities of IDEKO, our coordinator, in Elgoibar, a picturesque town in the Basque Country (Spain) to kick-off the project. ShieldBot, “Next-Generation Robotics for Sustainable and Efficient Thermal Shielding of Buildings”, is set to revolutionise the construction industry by integrating advanced robotics with sustainable practices to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in building renovation and energy efficiency.
As the demand for energy-efficient buildings continues to grow, traditional construction methods often struggle to keep pace with modern sustainability standards. ShieldBot bridges this gap with three of innovative robotic solutions:
- InnerShieldBot applies internal thermal shielding to walls and ceilings, enhancing comfort and efficiency.
- InspectionShieldBot employs advanced sensors to assess building exteriors, identifying areas requiring repair or insulation upgrades.
- FaçadeShieldBot installs thermal shielding on façades to improve insulation and reduce energy consumption.
Complementing these systems, the DigiShield digital twin collects and analyses data from robot operations, enabling real-time decision-making and precise project planning, and the inclusion of EcoShield materials (eco-friendly, sustainable insulation options) further supports our mission to minimise the carbon footprint of modern construction. All under a human-robot collaboration approach, ensuring technology enhances, rather than replaces, human expertise, making on-site work safer, smarter, and more efficient.
The ShieldBot Consortium: 11 Partners from 6 European Countries
With 11 research and industrial partners from six European countries (including Ukraine and United Kingdom), the ShieldBot consortium is united by a shared vision to work together during the next three years: to set a new benchmark for sustainable construction and renovation, paving the way for a more efficient and environmentally responsible future in urban development.
Our kick-off meeting in Elgoibar started with a welcome and general project presentation led by Jokin Muñoa, Scientific Manager at IDEKO and ShieldBot Coordinator, in which he introduced ShieldBot and the robotic technologies that we will develop from Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 to TLR5, highlighting our objectives, activity areas and demonstrators. He also focused on the ShieldBot work distribution, including our work plan, gantt chart, milestones, deliverables and expected results.
After Jokin Muñoa, Miren Zelaia, Project Manager at IDEKO, explained the Work Package (WP) 1: ‘Management and Coordination Activities’, focusing on the financial statements and administrative management. This first part of our kick-off meeting finished with the introduction of our Project Officer from the European Commission, Rebecca Kanellea, Project Manager at CINEA, the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency.
Then it was the turn for the ShieldBot partners, who introduced each of their organisations to present their background, expertise and activities: IDEKO, Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz (DFKI), Rolls-Royce UTC in Manufacturing and On-Wing Technology / University of Nottingham, Nantes Université, Laboratoire des Sciences du Numérique de Nantes (LS2N) / CNRS, Robotnik Automation, Bouygues Construction, RPTU Kaiserslautern-Landau, Neo-Eco, Neo-Eco Ukraine, and AUSTRALO.
The ShieldBot Work Packages
During the rest of the meeting, a discussion of each of our work packages was the central point of the agenda. We started with the WP2: ‘Requirements and KPIs Definition’, led by Bouygues Construction, followed by the WP3: ‘Disruptive Robotic Solutions for Sustainable Built Environment’, led by the University of Nottingham; the WP4: ‘Advanced Robot Functionalities for Construction and Renovation’, led by IDEKO; the WP5: ‘Advanced Construction Site Technolgies’, led by DFKI; the WP6: ‘ShieldBot Demonstrators’, led by Nantes Université, and last but not least, the WP7: ‘Dissemination and Exploitation’, managed by AUSTRALO.
But we not only presented each of our work packages, Bouygues Construction also hosted a workshop on WP2 in which all partners participated in a brainstorming session.
A Guided Tour of IDEKO, the ShieldBot Project Coordinator
The kick-off meeting is an inaugural gathering that formally launches a newly Horizon Europe funded project, in our case, ShieldBot, bringing together all members of the consortium for the first time in person.
This meeting provides an opportunity for partners to introduce themselves, begin building working relationships, and gain a clear understanding of each organisation’s role, responsibilities, and planned contributions. That is why during our kick-off, IDEKO offered us a guided tour around their facilities in Elgoibar to explain the research and innovation activities carried out there, specialised in advanced manufacturing technologies developed in four research groups: Dynamics and Control, Design and Precision Engineering, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Automation and Manufacturing Processes.
