PIKTRONIK Joins the SMART-LIVING Research and Innovation Programme
On 1 May 2026, PIKTRONIK officially launched its activities within the research and innovation programme Smart Sustainable Modular Future-Ready Quality Living Innovations (SMART-LIVING). The programme will run until April 2029 and is coordinated by the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty.
About the Programme
The overall objective of the SMART-LIVING programme is to develop technologies and products for creating zero-emission, sustainable, zero-energy, modular, and adaptable buildings of the future through interdisciplinary collaboration between research organisations and industrial partners.
Special emphasis will be placed on solutions that contribute to the well-being, health, safety, and protection of users. The developed prototypes will be integrated into a full-scale building demonstration module, enabling testing and evaluation under real-life conditions.
Research, Prototype Development and Demonstration
The programme is designed as an integrated framework consisting of eight research and development projects (RDps).
The foundation of the programme is research and technology development at TRL 3–4:
- RDp 1: Advanced bio-based materials for construction,
- RDp 2: Building fabric and functionalities,
- RDp 3: Energy in buildings,
- RDp 4: Development of AI for smart, circular and healthy home appliances.
The results of these projects will serve as the basis for the development of specific products and solutions at TRL 5–6:
- RDp 5: Prototypes of building fabric products,
- RDp 6: Prototypes of energy solutions.
The developed prototypes will then be demonstrated and validated in a real environment through:
- RDp 7: Demonstrators for indoor environments: Smart, Circular and Healthy,
- RDp 8: Demonstration and evaluation.
Expected Results
The main outcomes of the programme will be prototypes that will form the foundation for the development of market-ready products and their future large-scale production. During development, product properties will be assessed in advance, potential manufacturing challenges will be identified, and end-of-life management options will be evaluated.
A demonstration building will be constructed at the testing site of the industrial partner REM d.o.o. in Trebnje, Slovenia. The facility will showcase and integrate the programme’s solutions for smart, sustainable, circular, and health-oriented living.
Programme Consortium
The programme is led by the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, and includes the following consortium partners:
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
- University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Electrical Engineering
- University of Maribor, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
- Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute (ZAG)
- GORENJE d.o.o.,
- REM d.o.o.,
- DANFOSS TRATA d.o.o.,
- M SORA d.d.,
- SMARTIS d.o.o.,
- JUB d.o.o.,
- PIKTRONIK d.o.o.
Programme Value and Funding
The total value of the SMART-LIVING programme amounts to EUR 8,229,230.20. The contribution from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to EUR 4,999,780.68, representing approximately 60.76% of the total programme value.
The programme is co-financed by the ERDF within the framework of the European Cohesion Policy Programme 2021–2027.
Further information on European Cohesion Policy funding in Slovenia is available at the evropskasredstva.si.