Sustainability Symposium 2023

Expert network — exchange platform

Following numerous presentations in 2022/2023, the expert network KoBI (= Climate Optimization of Construction and Infrastructure for Public Clients) met for the first time in 2023 at the Administrative Headquarters of the Max Planck Society for a sustainability symposium to discuss the topic of 'Construction for Public Clients.' The focus was on cost group 300.

From 2013 to 2022, KoBi was the abbreviation for 'Conflict Prevention and Integrative Building Culture for Public Contracting Authorities.' It was established as AK 6 of the DGA-Bau (German Society for Out-of-Court Dispute Resolution in the Construction and Real Estate Industry) (www.dga-bau.de). The guiding principle of 'conflict prevention' was understood to derive quality criteria and concepts for project optimization by radically 'thinking back to the beginning' of conflict causes and by addressing important individual topics. This strengthened the ability to resolve conflicts in real time, saved resources in project execution through out-of-court dispute resolution, and optimized the work of the client organizations involved – especially for the client organizations of the public clients involved.

Since 2019, the construction industry's approach to the climate crisis has emerged as THE conflict of the future. From autumn 2022 to summer 2023, a focused work process was initiated, culminating in the 2023 symposium with the working title: Climate-neutral buildings as a goal for public contracting authorities (öAg). The circle of cooperation partners has expanded significantly. The idea of ​​independence from political parties, associations, and all expert stakeholders has proven to be important and very beneficial. Therefore, since 2023, our group has been operating as Expert Network KoBI: Climate Optimization in Construction and Infrastructure for Public Contracting Authorities 

Purpose

As before, it is to be understood as an 'open, neutral marketplace' and thus as a 'platform for knowledge exchange'. The work is interdisciplinary, knowledge-driven, open-ended, voluntary, and independent. It began in 2013 with 'constructors' from the Max Planck Society (MPG), the Fraunhofer Society, and the Helmholtz Association; It has since grown into a network of approximately 600 experts.