02.10.2026

102nd Euroconstruct Conference

European Construction Market Forecasts to 2029 – "Understanding What Moves the Market"

The programme of the 102nd Euroconstruct Conference, hosted by the Austrian Institute of Economic Research (WIFO), is complete and all speakers confirmed. On 19 and 20 November 2026, the Euroconstruct network will present in Vienna its Winter 2026 forecasts to 2029 for all 19 member markets, complemented by expert lectures from academia, industry and European institutions.

Macroeconomic opening with Gabriel Felbermayr

The conference day on 20 November opens with WIFO Director Gabriel Felbermayr's macroeconomic outlook to 2029 on interest rates, inflation, trade conflicts and geopolitical tensions. WIFO economist Michael Klien then presents the Euroconstruct forecast for the European construction market as a whole.

Three focus areas

Housing: Amy Mulligan (Ernst & Young Economic Advisory, Ireland) presents the residential forecast. Özgür Öner (GdW, Brussels) analyses the EU's European Affordable Housing Plan, which envisages 650,000 additional dwellings a year on top of the roughly 1.6 million currently built. Gerald Kössl (GBV) examines Austria's limited-profit housing sector as a possible reference model for Europe, and Hélène Sibileau (BPIE) addresses the renovation market between political ambition and actual momentum.

Non-residential construction: Lorenzo Rodriguez-Fernandez (Keystone Economics, UK) presents the forecast for commercial and public building. Michael Klien (WIFO) presents new findings on working from home and office demand in Austria and Germany. Martin Madlo (Austrian Data Center Association) explains why many European data centre projects fail on grid connection and permitting despite record demand. Lukas Schwarz (CBRE Capital Markets Austria) adds the property-market perspective.

Civil engineering: Stefanie Siegrist (KOF Swiss Economic Institute, ETH Zurich) presents the civil engineering forecast, a pillar of European construction driven by the energy transition, rail and water. Neri di Volo (European Investment Bank) gives an outlook on EU infrastructure financing.

Host of the conference day: Chris Cummins (FM4, ORF).

Networking evening on 19 November

A guided tour of the Wien Museum ("Wien wird Metropole") at 17:30 is followed at 19:00 by a networking dinner at Salon Plafond in the MAK. Places are limited and allocated in order of registration.

Conference partner: Austrian Federation of Limited-Profit Housing Associations (GBV).

The bi-annual flagship event of the Euroconstruct network is aimed at decision-makers, strategists and forecasters from the construction and supply industries, finance and insurance, property development and public bodies. The conference day is also available via livestream.