A European Union initiative set the goal of establishing a collaborative organization to promote and define a unified approach to the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM). The modern, social, and environmental challenges, combined with the scale and significance of the construction sector within the Eurozone, led to the formation of a working group, the EU BIM Task Group, aiming to develop a common strategy for the adoption and implementation of BIM by the public sector across Europe.

The construction industry is currently undergoing a technological renaissance, with BIM playing an important role in this innovation period. BIM enables the creation of information-rich models from all disciplines, allowing for the exploration of scenarios and facilitating smooth project workflows. In the modern era, the construction design and planning sector is increasingly realizing that traditional methods can no longer meet the demands of today’s projects or ensure successful outcomes. As a result, BIM is being rapidly adopted across the construction value chain as a strategic tool for cost savings, improved productivity and performance, enhanced infrastructure quality, and better environmental outcomes.

The development of BIM represents an innovative and highly promising technology that is gaining acceptance within the construction industry, replacing traditional design and construction methods. The innovation of BIM lies in the  introduction of new processes and tools that aim to virtually simulate a construction project, facilitate data analysis and support lifecycle management.

The proposed investment involves  the design and development of major expansions and upgrades to the existing structural analysis and design software “SCADA”, through the application and integration of BIM technology. The new software, “SCADA Pro BIM”, will integrate BIM technology, which serves both as a standard and a methodology that enables the design of “intelligent” objects. These objects carry all the required information (architectural, structural, electromechanical, construction, etc.) for the complete execution of a technical project.

More specifically, the new software will have the capability to aggregate all information, models, and drawings into a shared database, connecting them together to improve accuracy and reduce potential design errors or discrepancies. When a change is made to one model, the corresponding updates are automatically propagated throughout the database, ensuring that all associated drawings are updated accordingly. For example, if the cross-section of a column is modified, all related drawings, sections, plans, quantity take-offs, and so on are instantly updated. The resulting 3D BIM model becomes a comprehensive, detailed digital representation of the construction process before actual construction begins.

The proposed investment plan focuses on upgrading an existing structural and dynamic analysis software solution, incorporating innovative features that aim to support the design and construction of engineering projects that adhere to architectural intent, ensure safety, meet project timelines, and stay within the initial budget. The plan will follow the standard development lifecycle for new products intended to enter the market. Initially, a feasibility study and market analysis will be conducted, including data collection from potential users as well as from competing products. This research will form the basis for determining the final technological specifications of the product. Once finalized, a prototype will be developed to validate the functionality and efficiency of these specifications.

The first phase of the investment implementation will include final product design, development activities, and marketing and publicity efforts aimed at the commercial launch of the new product. In the next phase, utilizing both existing personnel and new hires, as well as outsourcing specialized tasks to expert collaborators, the project will move into the core development phase. This involves software implementation, application of appropriate methodologies and tools, and the configuration of the user interface for the Scada Pro BIM environment.

When the initial demonstration results (demos) become available, the project will proceed to the product release preparation phase. A critical aspect of the investment is securing intellectual property rights and protecting all outputs developed by ACE-Hellas S.A. The final phase will see the launch of SCADA Pro BIM to the market. A key factor in its commercial success will be its promotion and visibility to the target market, primarily companies active across the construction industry value chain. A milestone in this effort will be the company’s participation in industry trade fairs, both in Greece and internationally. These events will significantly enhance awareness of both the company and the SCADA Pro BIM product. They will be supported by additional marketing initiatives, including advertising campaigns and the development of a dedicated product website.

Overall, the activities and actions associated with the research and development of innovative products and services generate substantial social and economic benefits. Specifically, applied research, technological advancement, and innovation represent critical drivers of social and economic progress, addressing real-world challenges in a modern context. At the same time, the commercial exploitation of a project’s innovative outcomes delivers financial benefits not only to the developing organization but also to end users.