How a Slovenian SME is pushing green construction into the digital era

CoGreen is part of a new generation of construction companies pushing natural materials into the mainstream. Based in Ljubljana, the company is known for its use of hempcrete, a biocomposite construction material made from the woody core of the hemp plant, lime, and water. 

To strengthen its technical capabilities and prepare for the next stage of development to an industrial level (prefabrication) and to take on also larger, more complex projects, CoGreen worked with the University of Maribor, an Enterprise Europe Network partner, through the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) DIGI-SI initiative, which supports SMEs in their digital and green transition. With expert guidance from the University of Maribor, CoGreen began integrating building information modelling (BIM) and other advanced digital tools into its workflow, marking a significant step in bringing green construction into the digital age.

The collaboration focuses on practical digital adoption: phased BIM implementation, real-time project insights, and tools to improve precision, communication and sustainability across projects.

Digital transformation supporting sustainable construction

CoGreen’s shift toward digitalisation came naturally as the company scaled its hempcrete innovation. As CEO Primož Zorec explains, "Hemp construction was outside any possible scope in those days. It is still a little unconventional, but as awareness of environmental and health issues is rising […] so too is awareness of how digitalisation can benefit us."

The company sees BIM as a major opportunity to improve planning, stakeholder coordination, and modular building production. "I think BIM will become a powerful collaboration tool that can update all stakeholders instantly, even from the planning stage of construction projects," says Zorec. Features such as real-time cost management, technical adjustments, and instant visualisation make BIM especially relevant as CoGreen expands to production-level and customisation options (AI-supported) for clients.

Digitalisation also forces small teams to rethink daily operations. For CoGreen, limited resources and rapid growth made it essential to streamline how information moved across the company, pushing them to adopt tools that keep everyday communication, cost optimisation and planning far more structured.

Looking ahead, CoGreen sees strong potential in combining digital tools with natural-material construction. Zorec highlights two priorities: "AI analytics and XR tools." Extended reality (XR), he explains, allows customers to "see and ‘feel’ the end result as if they were already living in the building." AI-driven sensorics, meanwhile, will help the company collect real-time data on humidity, thermal performance, indoor-outdoor differences, acoustic performance, and carbon capture.

Tailored expert support enabling BIM adoption

For the University of Maribor, CoGreen’s readiness for digital transformation was apparent from the start. "CoGreen entered the initiative with a strong specialisation in natural materials and hempcrete, but what truly stood out was their readiness to embrace digital transformation," says Network adviser Doroteja Novak. Their organisational maturity and methodical planning made BIM a natural fit rather than a disruptive shift.

Introducing BIM to a micro-company requires careful sequencing, and Novak saw early indicators of preparedness. "Their request for expert consultation confirmed a willingness to pursue a systematic implementation approach," she explains. CoGreen’s openness to training, pilot projects, and phased adoption aligned with the long-term strategy needed for successful digital integration.

However, one of the main challenges was adapting BIM to natural-material workflows. "The biggest adjustment lay in reconfiguring BIM to reflect the specific logic of hempcrete," Novak notes, since conventional BIM templates are designed around standard construction materials.

Among the additional technologies recommended, Novak highlights the immediate value of digital monitoring. "For a micro-company such as CoGreen, internet of things (IoT)-based project monitoring offers the most immediate and measurable benefits, allowing real-time insights into natural-material performance," she says.

Finally, CoGreen is also encouraged to engage with strategic research and innovation partnership networks to strengthen long-term competitiveness through collaboration with research institutions and innovation ecosystems. According to Novak, this approach "helps mitigate challenges such as limited digital skills in the labour market and the financial demands of comprehensive digital adoption."