Every month, during a Coffee Break, we dive into the stories of EIC innovators and get a glimpse of the people behind EIC projects. Today’s guest is Mariana Popescu, Assistant Professor at TU Delft and coordinator of the EIC Pathfinder FlexiForm project, which is spearheading a novel approach to construction through sustainable and cost-effective solutions. From showcasing FlexiForm at the EIC Summit 2025 to the recent collaboration with the EIC Pathfinder DiDAX project culminating in the NECTO installation at this year’s Venice Biennale, Mariana walks us through FlexiForm’s journey so far, finally revealing her key inspirations when it comes to sustainability and efficiency in the construction industry of the future.
Could you tell us more about the mission of EIC Pathfinder FlexiForm project and how it seeks to transform the construction industry with solutions that are both sustainable and cost-effective?
At the core of our research is the ambition to establish a fabrication-aware design process, where the mechanical properties of functionally graded and digitally fabricated materials are directly integrated into the design process.
With a specific focus on 3D-knitted fabric formworks, this approach represents a critical step towards providing construction industry reliable and predictable tools, essential for building confidence and paving the way for large-scale adoption of the technology.
The project is carried out by a small consortium of partners with expertise in computational design, structural engineering, digital fabrication, and construction. Close collaboration with stakeholders is central to FlexiForm, ensuring effective knowledge transfer and accelerating the transformation of traditional building practices into more environmentally responsible and economically viable solutions for the future.
Looking back at FlexiForm’s achievements since the start of the project in October 2024, the collaboration with the EIC Pathfinder DiDAX project, that resulted in the NECTO installation at the Venice Biennale 2025, stands out. Could you expand on this collaboration and your involvement in it?
Within the built environment, sustainability is inherently linked to circular design approaches that prioritise material reuse. Material passports are essential in this context, as they document materials used, their sources, and provide authentication and accountability.
Having the material tracing information along with the fabrication data embedded within the structure through DNA storage ensures that it remains durable over time, with no need for maintenance or dependence on other soft and hardware solutions (e.g. cloud storage, data centers etc).
The collaboration was established through a smaller joint project, which received seed funding from the Bioengineering Institute of TU Delft, between Kunal Masania – Associate Professor at TU Delft, participating in the DiDAX project – and myself.
In April, at the EIC Summit 2025, you presented the project on Day 1, and FlexiForm was one of the EIC project exhibitors. What were your main takeaways from the event, and was it an opportunity to connect with other EIC projects as well?
The event was both energising and personally inspiring, as it allowed me to connect with other EIC projects and interact with various stakeholders, start-up supporters, and investors.
Being at the beginning of our project, this experience strengthened our entrepreneurial spirit and transformed our goal of turning our research into a start- up, into a more concrete objective.
We have since had a few conversations internally on what the best approach would be and it is a recurring agenda point.
Concluding on a more personal note, given FlexiForm’s focus on a more sustainable and efficient future in the construction industry, do you recall any book or movie that has particularly inspired you in this regard?
It's difficult to give an exhaustive answer to this question, as there are so many influences! I'll share the three that came to mind most immediately, each for different reasons.
The Tower and the Bridge: The New Art of Structural Engineering by David Billington (1983), which introduces the idea of the 3Es - Elegance, Economy and Efficiency. These principles still stand today and have inspired many professionals. As our societies and environments evolve, thought leaders in the field have added more Es to this foundational list (Environment, Education and Entrepreneurship).
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster" by Bill Gates (2021) because it clearly illustrates the complexity of climate challenges and their interconnected systems while maintaining a hopeful outlook. Moreover, Gates is one of the voices highlighting the need for developments in the construction industry to address climate change.
Last but not least, A Moratorium on New Construction by Charlotte Malterre- Barthes (2025), because it serves as an important reminder of how we exhaust resources and that the solution isn't always to build more, but to better utilise what we already have. This book inspires critical thinking and reminds me personally to pause and consider whether something is truly needed.
About FlexiForm
Launched in 2024, the EIC Pathfinder project FlexiForm is rethinking the way we build by developing sustainable, adaptive, and cost-effective construction methods. Supported by the EIC Pathfinder, the project aims to significantly reduce material use and environmental impact in the construction industry.
Learn more about FlexiForm by visiting the Horizon Europe database and the official project website.
Did you miss Mariana Popescu’s presentation at the EIC Summit 2025? The recording of her session from Day 1 is available here.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.