ECONOMIC FACTORS AND INSTITUTIONAL DRIVERS OF ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
Abstract
The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the key economic factors and institutional drivers influencing the development of additive technologies in the construction industry under conditions of technological transformation and digitalization of the global economy. The methodological basis of the research includes systemic, institutional and economic approaches to the analysis of technological innovation in the construction sector. Methods of scientific abstraction, comparative analysis, structural-functional analysis and synthesis were applied. The study also relies on the generalization of international analytical reports, statistical data and case studies of additive construction technologies implementation. The research demonstrates that the construction industry currently faces a number of structural challenges, including low productivity growth, high labor intensity and significant material consumption. These factors create economic conditions that stimulate the introduction of innovative technologies in construction. The study identifies the key drivers of additive technologies diffusion, such as the global housing deficit, shortage of qualified labor, increasing environmental requirements and the rapid growth of the global additive manufacturing market. It is established that the use of construction 3D printing technologies can significantly reduce construction time, minimize material waste and improve productivity. The study also analyzes investment characteristics and cost structures of additive construction projects, highlighting their long-term economic benefits. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the comprehensive identification and systematization of economic and institutional determinants of additive technologies development in the construction sector. The research provides a conceptual framework explaining the interaction between technological innovation, regulatory environment and economic efficiency within the paradigm of Construction 4.0. The results of the study can be used for the development of strategic approaches to technological modernization of the construction industry, as well as for the formation of public policies aimed at supporting innovative construction technologies. In addition, the research findings may contribute to the development of economic mechanisms for the implementation of additive construction technologies in large-scale infrastructure and housing projects. The study concludes that additive technologies represent a promising direction for increasing efficiency and sustainability in the construction industry. Their integration into the digital ecosystem of construction processes creates conditions for the formation of a new economic model of construction production. The implementation of additive technologies may also play an important role in accelerating post-war reconstruction and infrastructure development.
References
Barbosa F., Woetzel J., Mischke J. et al. Reinventing construction: a route to higher productivity. McKinsey Global Institute, 2017. 168 p. URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-productivity-revolution (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
McKinsey & Company. Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional. McKinsey Operations Practice, 2024. URL: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/delivering-on-construction-productivity-is-no-longer-optional (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Ginigaddara B., Ramachandra T., Geekiyanage D. Strategies for enhancing research and development activities in the Sri Lankan construction industry. Proceedings of the 11th International Research Conference. General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, 2018. P. 86–91.
World Bank. Introducing the Adequate Housing Index (AHI): a new approach to estimate the housing deficit. Policy Research Working Paper No. 9830. Washington, D.C.: World Bank Group, 2021. 42 p.
Wolf Ranch by ICON and Lennar: 100 3D-printed homes in Georgetown, Texas. Entrepreneur. 2024. Aug. 8. URL: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/how-much-does-a-3d-printed-icon-home-in-texas-cost/478301 (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
World Green Building Council. Sustainable and affordable housing. London: WorldGBC, 2023. URL: https://worldgbc.org/article/sustainable-and-affordable-housing/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Associated Builders and Contractors. 2024 construction workforce shortage tops half a million. ABC News Release. 2024. Jan. 31. URL: https://www.abc.org/News-Media/News-Releases/abc-2024-construction-workforce-shortage-tops-half-a-million (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Associated General Contractors of America. Skilled labor shortages in the construction industry: insights from AGC survey. COAA Resources. 2023. Nov. 29. URL: https://www.coaa.org/resources/skilled-labor-shortages-in-the-construction-industry-insights-from-agc-survey (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Shifting Paradigms. Embodied carbon reduction in EU construction makes economic sense. Report for the European Commission. 2023. URL: https://shiftingparadigms.nl/projects/eu_embodiedc/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
World Green Building Council. European building sector leaders urge EU to prioritise decarbonising the built environment. WorldGBC #BuildingLife. 2023. Jan. 17. URL: https://worldgbc.org/article/european-building-sector-leaders-urge-eu-to-prioritise-decarbonising-the-built-environment/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
European Council. Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Official Journal of the European Union. 2024. Apr. 14.
European Environment Agency. Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe. EEA Indicator Assessment. 2025. URL: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-energy (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Grand View Research. 3D Printing Construction Market Size & Share Report, 2030. Market Analysis Report. San Francisco: Grand View Research, 2024. URL: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-printing-constructions-market (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Wohlers T. et al. Wohlers Report 2023: 3D printing and additive manufacturing – global state of the industry. Fort Collins: Wohlers Associates / ASTM International, 2023. 425 p.
Wohlers T. et al. Wohlers Report 2024: 3D printing and additive manufacturing – global state of the industry. Fort Collins: Wohlers Associates / ASTM International, 2024.
Grand View Research. Global 3D Printing Construction Market Size & Outlook. Market Data Book. San Francisco: Grand View Research, 2024.
COBOD International. Europe's largest 3D printed building is being constructed in Heidelberg. COBOD News. 2023. May 3. URL: https://cobod.com/europe-largest-3d-printed-building/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
COBOD International. Largest 3D printed building in Africa. COBOD News. 2024. Feb. 4. URL: https://cobod.com/largest-3d-printed-building-in-africa/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Dubai 3D Printing Strategy. The Official Platform of the UAE Government. 2024. URL: https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/industry-science-and-technology/dubai-3d-printing-strategy (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Apis Cor. Dubai Municipality — world's largest 3D-printed building (640 m²). Parametric Architecture. 2024. Aug. 4. URL: https://parametric-architecture.com/apis-cor-completes-the-dubai-municipality-largest-3d-printed-construction/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Адитивні технології в будівництві: огляд конструктивних та економічних аспектів. Вісник НТУ «ХПІ». 2024. № 101. С. 85–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20998/2078-7405.2024.101.10
Al-Ameri A. et al. Environmental footprint and economics of a full-scale 3D-printed house. Sustainability. 2021. Vol. 13, No. 21. Article 11978. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111978
Weng Y. et al. Additive manufacturing in the construction industry: the comparative competitiveness of 3D concrete printing. Applied Sciences. 2021. Vol. 11, No. 9. Article 3865. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093865
Thomas D. S., Gilbert S. W. Costs and cost effectiveness of additive manufacturing: a literature review and discussion. NIST Special Publication 1176. Gaithersburg: National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1176
European Commission. Horizon Europe Call HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D4-01: on-site innovative robotic and automated solutions for building renovation and construction. 2026.
European Commission. The digital transformation of the built environment. BUILD UP. 2024. URL: https://build-up.ec.europa.eu/en/resources-and-tools/articles/overview-article-digital-transformation-built-environment-and-0 (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Sawhney A., Riley M., Irizarry J. (eds.). Construction 4.0: advanced technology, tools and materials for the digital transformation of the construction industry. London: Routledge, 2020. 530 p.
GMK Center. Non-residential segment became the driver of construction growth in Ukraine in 2024. GMK Center Infrastructure. 2025. URL: https://gmk.center/en/posts/non-residential-segment-became-the-driver-of-construction-growth-in-ukraine-in-2024/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
COBOD International. First 3D printed social housing project built to new ISO standards. COBOD News. 2024. Dec. 16. URL: https://cobod.com/3d-printed-social-housing-project-compliant-with-new-standards/ (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
COBOD International. COBOD's BOD2 3D printer used to build a school in Ukraine. Construction Digital. 2023. June 7. URL: https://constructiondigital.com/articles/cobods-bod2-3d-printer-used-to-build-a-school-in-ukraine (дата звернення: 09.03.2026).
Barbosa, F., Woetzel, J., Mischke, J., et al. (2017). Reinventing construction: A route to higher productivity. McKinsey Global Institute. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/reinventing-construction-through-a-productivity-revolution
McKinsey & Company. (2024). Delivering on construction productivity is no longer optional. Available at: https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/operations/our-insights/delivering-on-construction-productivity-is-no-longer-optional
Ginigaddara, B., Ramachandra, T., & Geekiyanage, D. (2018). Strategies for enhancing research and development activities in the Sri Lankan construction industry. In Proceedings of the 11th International Research Conference (pp. 86–91). General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
World Bank. (2021). Introducing the Adequate Housing Index (AHI): A new approach to estimate the housing deficit (Policy Research Working Paper No. 9830). World Bank Group.
Entrepreneur. (2024, August 8). Wolf Ranch by ICON and Lennar: 100 3D-printed homes in Georgetown, Texas. Available at: https://www.entrepreneur.com/business-news/how-much-does-a-3d-printed-icon-home-in-texas-cost/478301
World Green Building Council. (2023). Sustainable and affordable housing. Available at: https://worldgbc.org/article/sustainable-and-affordable-housing/
Associated Builders and Contractors. (2024, January 31). 2024 construction workforce shortage tops half a million. Available at: https://www.abc.org/News-Media/News-Releases/abc-2024-construction-workforce-shortage-tops-half-a-million
Associated General Contractors of America. (2023, November 29). Skilled labor shortages in the construction industry: Insights from AGC survey. Available at: https://www.coaa.org/resources/skilled-labor-shortages-in-the-construction-industry-insights-from-agc-survey
Shifting Paradigms. (2023). Embodied carbon reduction in EU construction makes economic sense. Available at: https://shiftingparadigms.nl/projects/eu_embodiedc/
World Green Building Council. (2023, January 17). European building sector leaders urge EU to prioritise decarbonising the built environment. Available at: https://worldgbc.org/article/european-building-sector-leaders-urge-eu-to-prioritise-decarbonising-the-built-environment/
European Council. (2024). Revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Official Journal of the European Union.
European Environment Agency. (2025). Greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings in Europe. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-energy
Grand View Research. (2024). 3D printing construction market size & share report, 2030. Grand View Research. Available at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-printing-constructions-market
Wohlers, T., et al. (2023). Wohlers Report 2023: 3D printing and additive manufacturing – Global state of the industry. Wohlers Associates / ASTM International.
Wohlers, T., et al. (2024). Wohlers Report 2024: 3D printing and additive manufacturing – Global state of the industry. Wohlers Associates / ASTM International.
Grand View Research. (2024). Global 3D printing construction market size & outlook. Grand View Research.
COBOD International. (2023, May 3). Europe's largest 3D printed building is being constructed in Heidelberg. Available at: https://cobod.com/europe-largest-3d-printed-building/
COBOD International. (2024, February 4). Largest 3D printed building in Africa. Available at: https://cobod.com/largest-3d-printed-building-in-africa/
UAE Government. (2024). Dubai 3D printing strategy. Available at: https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/industry-science-and-technology/dubai-3d-printing-strategy
Parametric Architecture. (2024, August 4). Dubai Municipality — world's largest 3D-printed building (640 m²). Available at: https://parametric-architecture.com/apis-cor-completes-the-dubai-municipality-largest-3d-printed-construction/
Adytyvni tekhnolohii v budivnytstvi: Ohliad konstruktyvnykh ta ekonomichnykh aspektiv [Additive technologies in construction: Review of structural and economic aspects]. (2024). Visnyk NTU “KhPI”, no. 101, pp. 85–97. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20998/2078-7405.2024.101.10
Al-Ameri, A., et al. (2021). Environmental footprint and economics of a full-scale 3D-printed house. Sustainability, no. 13(21), 11978. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111978
Weng, Y., et al. (2021). Additive manufacturing in the construction industry: The comparative competitiveness of 3D concrete printing. Applied Sciences, no. 11(9), 3865. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/app11093865
Thomas, D. S., & Gilbert, S. W. (2014). Costs and cost effectiveness of additive manufacturing: A literature review and discussion (NIST Special Publication 1176). National Institute of Standards and Technology. DOI: https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.1176
European Commission. (2026). Horizon Europe Call HORIZON-CL5-2026-02-D4-01: On-site innovative robotic and automated solutions for building renovation and construction.
European Commission. (2024). The digital transformation of the built environment. Available at: https://build-up.ec.europa.eu/en/resources-and-tools/articles/overview-article-digital-transformation-built-environment-and-0
Sawhney, A., Riley, M., & Irizarry, J. (Eds.). (2020). Construction 4.0: Advanced technology, tools and materials for the digital transformation of the construction industry. Routledge.
GMK Center. (2025). Non-residential segment became the driver of construction growth in Ukraine in 2024. Available at: https://gmk.center/en/posts/non-residential-segment-became-the-driver-of-construction-growth-in-ukraine-in-2024/
COBOD International. (2024, December 16). First 3D printed social housing project built to new ISO standards. Available at: https://cobod.com/3d-printed-social-housing-project-compliant-with-new-standards/
Construction Digital. (2023, June 7). COBOD's BOD2 3D printer used to build a school in Ukraine. Available at: https://constructiondigital.com/articles/cobods-bod2-3d-printer-used-to-build-a-school-in-ukraine
Copyright (c) 2026 Андрій Лісовий, Дмитрій Коритько

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

