CKN Report Presentation - Sustainable Built Environment Cooperation Between the Netherlands and China

Join us for the presentation of a new China Knowledge Network (CKN) report on Sustainable Built Environment Cooperation Between the Netherlands and China.

In many fields China and The Netherlands are competitors with opposite interests. However, many challenges that concern all of humankind: energy saving, CO2 reduction, circularity, etc. the counties have a shared interest. Especially the role of built environment is dominant in these issues. For this reason, cooperation and knowledge sharing is highly desirable. Especially since the scale on which the shared knowledge is developed, and can be applied, is in China many times greater than in the Netherlands or even in Europe.

China, the world’s largest construction market, is undergoing a green transition, integrating sustainability into planning, procurement, and standards.

For the Netherlands, this presents both opportunity and complexity. Dutch expertise in circular construction, green materials, and climate-adaptive design aligns well with China’s goals. But true cooperation requires understanding China's regulatory and institutional context.

This report aims to deepen global insight into China’s sustainable built environment progress and support cooperation across government, business, and research. By reviewing policy frameworks and practical experiences, it aims to foster collaboration in green construction, low-carbon transition, and circularity on the basis of equality, mutual trust, and mutual benefit. Such joint efforts will not only strengthen both countries’ competitiveness and leadership in the global sustainable manufacturing industry, also support the achievement of international climate goals and the advancement of global sustainable development.

Details

• Date: Wednesday, November 5
• Time: 15:00 – 16:30
• Location: Schouwburgstraat 2, A2.01, The Hague or online

Preliminary Agenda:
15:00 – 15:10 | Entry
15:10 – 15:20 | Welcome and Introduction
15:20 – 16:00 | Presentation of Key Findings
16:00 – 16:20 | Q&A and Discussion
16:20 – 16:30 | Closing Remarks

16:30 – 17:30 | Networking borrel

Bowen Xu, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellow and currently a postdoctoral researcher at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). His research focuses on sustainable structural design, structural applications of sustainable building materials, and the integration of circular economy principles into building systems. This report was written during his postdoctoral research at TU/e, with the aim of supporting Sino-Dutch cooperation in green buildings through evidence-based analysis of technologies, policies, and markets. Prior to his academic career, he worked at China State Construction Engineering Corporation, which provided him with practical experience and unique insights into China’s construction industry and institutional environment.

Jos Brouwers, full professor at the Department of the Built Environment of Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), where he leads the Building Materials research group. His research covers sustainable cements and concretes, the circular use of industrial by-products in construction, particle packing theory, and durability modeling. He is widely recognized for his contributions to eco-efficient building materials, having published more than 250 scientific papers with over 24,000 citations. Beyond academia, Professor Brouwers has extensive experience in bridging research and industry. He has coordinated and participated in numerous international research and industrial collaboration projects, ranging from the development of green building materials and the valorization of construction and demolition waste to the implementation of low-carbon construction systems. He maintains close partnerships with leading companies in Europe and worldwide, ensuring strong links between fundamental research and practical application. He also serves as a guest professor at Wuhan University of Technology and as an advisor to various multinational research initiatives and industrial projects, actively promoting the integration of science, industry, and policy in advancing sustainable construction.