Research Allowance for Construction & Building Technology
In construction, research with an uncertain outcome is eligible – standard planning and building execution in line with the recognized rules of technology are not. Eligible activities include new building materials and construction methods, novel structural or design principles, and building-physics developments with an open outcome. We draw a review-proof line between research and routine engineering.
All free & non-binding – no upfront risk.
Context
Construction projects are assessed against the general R&D criteria. Planning and execution in line with the recognized rules of technology (e.g. Eurocode, standards) are routine; research only exists once a scientific-technical uncertainty with an open outcome has to be resolved.
Which R&D activities in Construction & Building Technology are eligible?
- New building materials, construction products or material combinations with an uncertain property profile
- Novel construction methods or manufacturing techniques (e.g. additive processes) with a technically open outcome
- New structural, design or connection principles beyond the recognized rules of technology
- Building-physics developments (energy, acoustics, fire) and testing on sample components / prototypes
Example: research allowance in Construction & Building Technology
For illustration only – not a real client case.
Assumption: Assume around €300,000 of eligible R&D staff costs per year for a qualifying Construction & Building Technology project.
Simplified example based on the eligible R&D staff costs (as of July 2026); excluding the overhead flat rate, contract research, owner work and the cap. Your actual funding depends on the individual case.
Typical non-eligible activities & reasons for rejection
This is exactly where many first applications fail. These points come from the BSFZ review guidelines:
- Standard planning and structural analysis in line with the recognized rules of technology (Eurocode, standards)
- Construction execution, shell construction and trades after planning is complete
- Permit and approval activities
- Recurring construction, renovation and maintenance services
- Transferring known solutions to a new construction project without genuine technical risk
Research language instead of development language
The BSFZ assesses by scientific criteria. An example from Construction & Building Technology:
“We designed a particularly load-bearing component.”
“Whether a novel material and reinforcement concept achieves the required load-bearing capacity with reduced material use beyond the normative structural analysis – with an outcome that was open at project start, validated on sample components and threshold values.”
FAQ: research allowance for Construction & Building Technology
Which R&D activities in construction are eligible?
Eligible activities include new building materials and construction methods, novel structural and design principles beyond the recognized rules of technology, and building-physics developments – in each case with an outcome that was open at project start and testing on sample components.
Is planning according to Eurocode eligible?
No. Structural analysis and planning in line with the recognized rules of technology (Eurocode, standards) are routine. Research only exists once there is a genuine technical uncertainty that goes beyond mere compliance with standards.
Does an individually designed structure automatically count as research?
No. Individuality alone is not enough. What is decisive is a scientific-technical uncertainty with an open outcome that has to be resolved within the project.