Call for entries in ULI Europe’s PropTech Innovation Challenge
The Urban Land Institute Europe is calling for entries in the 2026 PropTech Innovation Challenge, inviting innovators from across the built environment and technology to enter their cutting-edge solutions addressing the environmental, economic and social resilience of real estate.
The fourth edition of the competition, which is a Young Leaders-led initiative with a focus on fostering innovation in real estate, reflects the mission of ULI to shape the future of the built environment for transformative impact in communities worldwide.
Innovators, who do not need to be ULI members, are invited to submit their workable, scalable, and competitive solutions that promote resilient business models to support real estate in remaining viable and competitive while proactively identifying climate and social vulnerabilities and developing adaptive responses to them.
The focus this year is on durability across economic, environmental, and social pressures, with solutions reimagining how real estate integrates with different asset classes and functions to promote new ways of living and working. Innovations submitted can include both high and low-tech solutions such as hardware, software and business models. The expert jury will assess them according to three criteria: potential impact, innovation and likelihood of adoption.
“The question of how we make our buildings, cities and communities resilient to the diverse risks and uncertainties that affect everyone is a central focus of ULI’s mission,” said Simon Durkin, CEO, ULI Europe. “There are important environmental and social factors that our industry needs to address, as well as value preservation, and awareness of the most effective and innovative solutions to tackle some of the biggest challenges we face is critical.”
PIC runs in two phases, beginning with eight regional competitions for Austria, CEE (Poland and Czech Republic), France, Germany, Greece and Cyprus, Iberia (Spain and Portugal), Switzerland, and the UK and Ireland. The shortlisted finalists in each region will be invited to present to their national ULI PIC Jury Committees.
Each of the regional winners will then be eligible to enter the pan-European Grand Final of PIC in September 2026, presenting to the European jury. The overall European winner will then be revealed at the C Change Summit on November 5, 2026, in Dublin.
All regional winners will receive a one-year associate ULI membership. The overall winner will receive full ULI membership for one year, including access to events including the ULI Europe Conference and C Change Summit, and secure a place in the ULI Accelerator program, subject to eligibility, offering further opportunities for growth, mentorship, and investment.
Last year Automated Architecture (AUAR) from the UK took the top prize with its platform for automated construction of sustainable and affordable timber-frame housing, while Coat-ing (Nordic) and aloHOMora coliving (France) received special mentions.
The competition is now open for entries. Submissions are welcome from both ULI members and non-members, and organizations can include not-for-profit, for-profit and academic/research labs operating in applicable European markets. To enter please visit the ULI Europe website .
