The 2026 Innovation Awards reveal the future of buildings

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Emma Potter

Ease of implementation, decarbonization, AI: through the 278 applications for the 2026 Innovation Awards, manufacturers are drawing up the main directions that will shape the building of tomorrow.

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THE 278 applications for the 2026 Innovation Awards competition of the Paris Builders Show are all products and solutions which set the tone for the orientations chosen by manufacturers and service companies for find their place in the building of today and tomorrow – even yesterday because in these times of shortage of new construction, renovation is an omnipresent theme!

Among the major axes that emerge from the innovations presentedlet us remember the ease of implementation, maintenance and use, recurring and generalized to all sectors. The decarbonization of products and uses, which is also continuing at full speed. Manufacturers and service companies which increasingly support implementation through business applications and new services, while AI increasingly appears as a facilitator of the act of building or renovating.

The juries delivered their verdict in the ten categories of the Innovation Awards by selecting 110 applications, compared to 102 in the previous edition, among the 278 applications in the running. The winners were then revealed on July 2, during a press dating organized at the Cité du Cinéma, by Jean-Philippe Guillon, here in the photo, the director of Paris Builders Show. © EJH

Faster and more reliable construction sites

Facilitating implementation and maintenance by professionals and simplifying use are among the main concerns of manufacturers in all sectors. Whether it is to compensate for a loss of skills on construction sites, improve productivity or make results more reliable, most innovations go in this direction:

– electric robot for automatic tiling Partner IM Robotics Technology;

– Mortex Color 3 fine mineral micro-mortar from Beal applicable in a layer of 3 mm, for an ultra-resistant continuous surface;

– Wall-De-Fix modular fixing and assembly system for tailor-made wall furniture from a handful of elements;

– Airtightness process by automated AeroBarrier aerosol injection from Aeroseal in a building placed under overpressure;

– Hybrimur Jousselin Prefabrication delivered ready to install, etc.

Always to facilitate work and save considerable time, professional applications are flourishing: for example, the design support tool from A to Z from Wall-De-Fix or the laser implementation service from Saint-Gobain Ecophon. © Wall-De-Fix

Faced with the waste of used sealant, glue and silicone cartridges, Christelle Caron imagined a patented solution, a gold winner at the Paris Builder Shows 2026, the Masticbox Sadurr. © ibphotographie / RX Global

Artificial Intelligence, increasingly integrated assistance

THE use of AI is clearly developing. Thus, La Bonne Response has developed an AI solution specially designed for building and energy renovation professionals.

The Argile solution combines a database with an operating program (from the scan of the existing housing, the AI ​​performs a 3D reconstruction, launches a physical simulation engine and relies on an impressive database to propose renovation solutions, evaluate them and produce EEC application files, etc.).

At Bravi, AI on a smartphone or a connected tablet answers technical questions by crossing the constraints of several documents to construct a coherent answer.
TenderStrike, an AI platform, transforms the company’s data assets – CVs, past references, prices charged, previous memories – into operational intelligence to optimize the response to calls for tenders.

Decarbonizing, a vital economic and ecological issue

More significant than in the last two editions, the decarbonization category concerns the most diverse products and solutions. Manufacturers continue to adapt to the challenges of decarbonization by looking for new less impactful materials, more energy-efficient processes and electrified as much as possible, products and solutions compatible with the requirements of RE2020, which are progressing step by step. The carbon footprint of products is decreasing and is displayed using FDES (Environmental and Health Declaration Sheet) and PEP (Product Environmental Profile) which have become almost essential.

Renovation obviously benefits from this underlying trend.

Sovereignty, a driver of change

In a tense economic and geopolitical context, the use of fossil fuels and materials from petrochemicals is increasingly volatile. Supply circuits are evolving and difficulties are appearing with certain raw materials – such as styrene – whose prices adjust according to events, impacting those of finished products.
Recycling materials and natural materials are becoming increasingly attractive options for manufacturers.

Recycled materials and biosourced materials

Like plant-based players, who are continuing their development – ​​Biofib roofing insulation made from hemp and recycled textile, Fiboo Flex based on bamboo – more manufacturers are integrating natural fibers into their products – Vivapure BA13 STD plasterboard from Siniat – or recycled materials (recycled polyester textile in the Plumbox Line ventilation plenum from France Air).

The joinery profiles contain more and more recycled aluminum – 75 to 100% – and incorporate wood (TimberWall 50 from Reynaers; aluminum and Bugal wood railings and screens).

Reducing energy consumption and specific trends

Energy efficiency remains a priority. enovaQ by HWQ Concept and Cardonnel could, for example, halve the thermal losses of a collective hot water distribution loop, if the solution succeeds in developing.

Certain groups of products are evolving to respond to regulatory and normative frameworks specific to a sector, or to architectural trends (gigantism of openings, electrification of uses).

Climate engineering: heat pumps ever more present

Pushed in all directions by current government policy, heat pumps are the queens of the sector. They favor R290 (propane), a fluid with a very low Global Warming Power – in line with the European F-gas regulation which requires fluids with a GWP < 150 – and good thermodynamic performance.

Manufacturers adapt their machines to the installation constraints of this explosive fluid:

– Vaillant-Saunier Duval;

– Midea HVAC France;

– Domusa Teknik, NIBE indoor geothermal heat pump, etc.

Electricity still, the offers of photovoltaic solutions are multiplying to provide equipment with increasingly sought-after autonomy (PHOMI eSolarFaçade; Prefa France and Roofit Solar Energy OÜ with integrated roof solutions; Ehret photovoltaic sliding shutters, etc.). © Ehret

The winners of the Innovation Awards: a harvest of quality

THE large number of applications submitted testify to the dynamism of the construction and renovation sector and the growing interest of manufacturers in this competition which highlights innovation in all its aspects.

Let’s congratulate the rewarded companies, with a thought for all the nominees who were sometimes just a hair’s breadth away!

These innovations are highlighted on interactive terminals present in all the pavilions, a digital device allowing everyone to create a tailor-made tour to meet the most innovative manufacturers and players.

Innovation Awards winners
Construction Tech, Start-up, IT and new technologies
Gold Clay – Claycomplete AI agent for construction
Money Kloovis – Intermediary for in-kind sponsorship (AGEC law)
Bronze 3D Housing – Visuary
Favorite The Correct Answer – The Correct Answer
Decarbonization
Gold Fiboo – Fiboo Flex
Money Siniat – Vivapure BA13 STD
Bronze Assembl’IH – My Alveolus Circular
Climate engineering
Gold Cardonnel – enovaQ by HWQ Concept
Money Saunier Duval – ThermaPlus M-Condens
Bronze ÖkoFEN – Pellematic Smart XS 400
Favorite Anjos Ventilation – CO air inlet?
Climate engineering for the tertiary sector
Gold Viega – Smartloop-Inliner
Money Jeremias France – Ekkotherm
Bronze Panasonic – Jet Air Stream
Structural work, structure and envelope
Gold Prefa France – Prefalz Solar Module
Money Jousselin – Hybrimur
Bronze Phomi Holding – Phomi eSolarFacade
Interior & Design
Gold Beal – Mortex Color 3
Money Saint-Gobain Ecophon – Laser Implementation Service by Ecophon
Bronze Wall-De-Fix – Wall-Design-Fixation
Construction machines, tools, vehicles and equipment
Gold (tied) Brand France – CP Box Trolley
Crysla SAS – Masticbox Sadurr Quattro
Money Mills Solution – DUO without harness
Bronze First Base – TP60 Tensile Test Kit
Carpentry and facade
Gold Technal – Re-New the facade
Money K-Line – K-Line Low Carbon Windows
Bronze (3 ties) CETIH Mâchecoul – Alvar Aluminum Entrance Door
Futurol – Bloc’Lam
Geplast – FoKus2
Favorite Millet Doors and Windows – ultiM
Sun protection
Gold KE France – Quad
Money Ehret – SolarSlide
Bronze Renson – Topfix Large
Favorite Bandalux – Z-Box XXL
Bathroom
Gold (tied) Roth France – E-Vipanel
Wedi – wedi Fundo Thermo
Money Presto Faucets – Presto Slim

ibphotography / RX Global