AMBIENT

AMBIENT (Advanced Materials for NEB-Inspired ENvironmenTal Public Procurement) responds to the growing challenges posed by extreme climate events, which place increasing pressure on European cities, infrastructure, and citizens’ well-being interms of energy demand. Rising heatwaves, cold spells, and energy demand are reshaping urban life, creating urgent needs for climate-resilient, energy-efficient, and inclusive solutions. The New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative provides the guiding framework, linking sustainability, aesthetics, and social inclusion with advanced material innovations. AMBIENT will establish a Europe-wide consortium of public procurers and advanced material experts to i) Identify unmet procurement needs in climate resilience, energy efficiency, and public welfare ; ii) Foster market dialogue through Open Market Consultation, matchmaking events, and demand–supply gap analysis; iii) Promote innovative advanced materials with functional, circular, and aesthetic qualities aligned with NEB values ; iv) Enable knowledge sharing and capacity building for public buyers, supported by training, guidelines, and digital tools; and v) Prepare future PCP/PPI procedures that integrate sustainability, circularity, and standardisation pathways into procurement strategies. The methodology integrates needs assessment, market analysis, and procurement strategy design, validated by an NEB Observer Committee of municipalities, experts, and policymakers. By de-risking innovation procurement and aligning it with EU policy priorities AMBIENT will empower public authorities to act as catalysts for market transformation. SMEs, startups, and research institutions will gain clearer routes to market, while citizens will benefit from more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces. Ultimately, AMBIENT will create a scalable European ecosystem for advanced materials procurement, strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy.