The Catalan Cork Institute Foundation (ICSuro) and theInstitute of Construction Technology of Catalonia (ITeC) have signed a Framework Agreement for Collaboration to promote new applications of the Cork in the construction sector, with special attention to areas such as bioconstruction, the sustainability and the innovation.

The agreement has been formalized by the director of ICSuro, Alba Balcells, and the director of ITeC, Francisco Dieguez, with the aim of reinforcing the presence of cork as a strategic natural material in environments where it can provide more value, especially within the framework of the transition towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly construction model.

This alliance will allow progress in different lines of work, including:

• Studies and technical advice linked to the application of cork in construction solutions
• Digitization and integration into databases, with special relevance of resources such as BEDEC
• Product characterization and certification, to facilitate its prescription and use on site
• Collaboration in R&D projects, as well as in the search for financing and technology transfer opportunities

According to Alba Balcells, director of ICSuro, this agreement represents “another step towards transforming knowledge into opportunities and growing the potential of cork as a natural, renewable material with a key role in sustainable construction”.

With this agreement, FICSuro continues to work to establish alliances with key players in the sector, ensuring that cork has the greatest role in those spaces where it can contribute to innovation, the bioeconomy and the circular economy.