Topciment® promotes ECONSTRUCT, a project to advance long-lasting, sustainable antimicrobial coatings

The construction sector is moving towards materials that last longer, require less maintenance and reduce emissions across their life cycle. In this context ECONSTRUCT was launched: strategic collaborative project focused on developing more durable, safer and more sustainable construction and decorative solutions.

At Topciment®, we see innovation as a driving force for more sustainable construction. That is why we promote high-impact R&D&I projects that help reduce carbon footprint and strengthen the circular economy—initiatives like this one, in which the financial support of FEDER funds has been key.

What is ECONSTRUCT about?

ECONSTRUCT is a collaborative industrial research project whose main objective is the development of an innovative coating designed to replace traditional organic coatings, with a particular focus on microcement. This paves the way for more responsible solutions aligned with new environmental requirements.

This project focuses on developing a sustainable, resistant and functional coating with the following advantages:

- Antimicrobial properties.

- Controlled pore size.

- Greater durability, helping to extend the service life of materials.

- Reduced environmental impact by minimising the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

- Less generation of non-biodegradable waste.

A project in line with the S3-CV and the CEI challenges

ECONSTRUCT is framed within the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Valencian Community (S3-CV) and addresses the main challenges defined by the Strategic Innovation Committee (CEI), tackling the need to develop alternative materials that are more resistant and durable, helping to:

- mitigate the effects of climate change,

- and improve the sustainability of built environments.

ECONSTRUCT strategic objectives

The project is built around four main strategic objectives:

1. Develop a sustainable inorganic coating as an alternative to conventional solutions.
2. Increase the durability of construction systems by extending the service life of microcement.
3. Reduce environmental impact by minimising VOC emissions and the use of non-biodegradable materials.
4. Improve industrial competitiveness, through innovative, efficient solutions aligned with new regulatory and environmental requirements.

A collaborative project to boost industrial transfer

ECONSTRUCT is being driven through cooperation between Topciment® and Moldrug, combining technical and industrial capabilities to accelerate the development of the coating and its application in real-world environments.

The initiative arises in response to increasingly demanding sector challenges, intensified by extreme events such as the DANA. Situations in which structural dampness and microbiological proliferation have highlighted the need for materials that not only protect surfaces, but also actively act against fungi, bacteria and viruses, helping to reduce hygiene and health risks in homes, infrastructure and public spaces.

Investment made in the ECONSTRUCT project

The ECONSTRUCT project has a total investment of €600.661,68 €, distributed over the 2025–2027 period, and financed by the European Union under the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) programme for the Valencian Community 2021–2027.

The annual breakdown is as follows:
- 2025: €100.768,14
- 2026: €174.942,89
- 2027: €324.950,65