The Sustainable Habitat Cluster, recognized by the Portuguese government is a very broad cluster since it covers the Habitat value chain involving areas from the extractive sector to processing of building materials, as well as construction and rehabilitation and also other activities involving suppliers of goods and equipment for the built environment (Habitat).
Internationally, 1302 Clusters from 45 countries are registered on the ESCA platform (European Secretariat of Cluster Analysis), which assesses and classifies clusters worldwide. After evaluation, 1083 Clusters have the Bronze Label, 117 the Silver Label and only 102 the Gold Label, the highest level of international recognition for the clusters of competitiveness. Within the "Construction" category, only 2 Europs Clusters have the Gold Label, one of them being the Sustainable Habitat Cluster. In 2013, the Cluster had already received the classification of "Bronze Label", obtaining in 2015 the "Gold Label", a classification that was successfully renewed in 2018, a fact that is noted with great satisfaction by the repercussion and international recognition of the Cluster.
The entities forming this Cluster intend to create synergies for the development of new products, technologies and building systems, a new practice in designing space and surrounding areas, leading to an attitude of innovation through the built environment sustainability, aiming to generate competitiveness.
This cluster has adopted the subject of Sustainability as a dynamic factor to its strategic development, aiming to contribute for a more "Sustainable Habitat".
Sustainability is the driving force for innovation and the desired competitiveness of the cluster members, with impact on economic, social and environmental aspects.
While, in the national market, the strategic interventions are mainly related to rehabilitation, conservation and qualification of the built heritage, in the international market, especially in developing countries, the prospect is related to construction in general (buildings, cities, infrastructures). In both markets, the statement of a specialization in sustainable construction by companies and other cluster agents aims to be an element of differentiation, generating factors of international competitiveness.
