Preparedness, security and defense have become topical themes over the past couple of years due to the changed world situation. The EU has woken up to the situation, and at the end of March 2025 the Commission published a Preparedness Union Strategy, which will help prepare for future threats by improving Europe's capabilities to prevent and respond to new threats. Themes related to preparedness and security have not been directly addressed in the ongoing funding programmes. However, they contain several elements that fit the theme: sustainable construction, low-carbon construction, the circular economy, developing the multifunctionality of spaces, and new and renewable forms of energy and their innovative use.
In Finland, the construction of civil protection shelters is taken into account in building legislation, and they exist, unlike in many other EU countries. However, a large part of the civil protection shelters are old and need updating. New shelters are also being built because the law requires them to be built in large residential buildings, production facilities, and public buildings.
The aim of the project is to come up with new sustainable solutions for the construction and updating of civil protection shelters to meet current needs in both renovation and new construction. Both new construction and renovation take into account the use of low-carbon and recycled materials, development opportunities for the multifunctionality of facilities, opportunities for the introduction and storage of new forms of energy, and food production.
The project will result in pilot plans that take into account sustainable development and circular economy construction solutions, energy production and storage, and food production opportunities in shelters. The pilots will include new ideas for low-carbon renovation and new construction of shelters, as well as ideas for developing their multifunctionality. The project outputs will include reports on food production opportunities and solutions in civilian shelters, as well as on the possibilities for using and storing new and renewable forms of energy in civilian shelters.
The project will influence the future design and construction solutions of civil protection shelters. Due to the current security situation, the topic is likely to be of interest to both the public and private sectors, so the plans or some of their ideas will likely move into practical implementation or more detailed implementation planning.
Funding
Funding source
Etelä-Pohjanmaan liitto alueiden kehittämisen ja Euroopan unionin alue- ja rakennepolitiikan hankkeet, EAKR.