APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY

Based on the knowledge and experience gained from the various sustainable development projects in Europe, GrAT mirrors the Appropriate Technology (AT) principles and practices to the developing countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Nepal, and Bhutan under the EuropeAid Switch-Asia Programme of European Union. A number of hands-on AT cases for the use of renewable materials and energy, increase of resource efficiency, creation of new business, and improvement of working environment have been achieved.  

AT development principles:

•      Affordability
•      Locally abundant materials
•      Environmentally conscious
•      Culturally acceptable
•      Simply better

SUSTAINABLE BUILDING

Shift from irreplaceable and scarce fossil and mineral resources to renewable materials is decisive in the transformation to a sustainable economic system.

GrAT tries to utilize the great technical features of renewable materials such as straw, bamboo, and other natural fibre in the building sector, which is one of the main industries with huge environmental impact. Vegetal and animal structures and substances are investigated, and applied through optimisation to develop new solutions that meet the technical, economic, and ecological criteria of modern building requirements.

Often renewable materials show excelling performance in terms of insulation, fire resistance, soundproof, ventilation, and user comfort, in comparison to fossil and mineral based options.

Product Service Systems (PSS)

Innovative business models can be generated with system-design approach. Products and services can be combined to constitute a package solution, which is resource efficient, economically lucrative, and socially beneficial. GrAT offers consulting as well as training services to any types of institutions, ranging from a small company to a national policy institution. Different design and ideation methods, such as a system map and stakeholder involvement tools are adopted by the experts to fit the specific needs and circumstances.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

With the funded projects, GrAT could also strengthen its management capacity and organisational/educational/communication skills, and enlarge the scope of network and partnerships. 

GrAT is one of the very first and few organisations dedicated to AT R&D in Europe, founded in 1986. In the recent 10 years, more than 30 inter/national projects were accomplished. GrAT has built up a pool of experts in Austria and its project offices abroad.

Managing Director of GrAT, Dr. Robert Wimmer has over 30 years of experience in AT development and interdisciplinary projects including the S-House, the Zero Carbon Resorts, the straw bale certification projects, and many others in Austria, Europe, and Asia.

Dr. Myung-Joo Kang is an experienced project manager with expertise in system design for high resource and energy efficiency. She has recently accomplished the EU SWITCH-Asia SEID project in Nepal and Bhutan, which engaged 7 international partner institutes with more than 50 staff.