Info Patronale · No. 338 · May 2026

REON, when buildings become circular assets

With a predictive analysis tool, the start-up REON helps real estate players identify and capitalise on the reuse potential of building components. We meet its founder, Maria Sivers, at the crossroads of construction, data and the circular economy.

What inspired you to create your start-up?

Every year, millions of buildings around the world are demolished before reaching the end of their real lifespan, generating massive volumes of waste, CO₂ emissions and lost resources. Yet a large proportion of these components – beams, windows, columns, slabs – could be reused as they are. This systematic loss of value led me to develop a tool that makes reuse visible, measurable and economically credible, before it is too late to act.

Can you briefly explain what your innovation is?

REON est un outil d’aide à la décision qui analyse les bâtiments existants à partir des données disponibles – plans numériques, données BIM, informations techniques, ou tout autre document de référence. Il scanne les composants, évalue leur valeur financière, leur impact carbone, leur adéquation technique et leur adéquation avec la demande du marché. Grâce à un indice propriétaire – le Reuse Viability Index – les décideurs·euses peuvent choisir objectivement entre le réemploi, l’adaptation et la démolition.

Creating economic and environmental value

Au-delà de l’outil, REON s’affirme comme un acteur structurant de la construction circulaire. En s’appuyant sur des données issues de dizaines de milliers de transactions de réemploi en Europe, la start-up comble un vide décisionnel persistant chez les maître·sse·s d’ouvrage. Elle permet d’anticiper, dès la phase amont, ce qui peut être réellement réemployé, à quel coût et avec quel impact carbone – avec une précision prédictive élevée. Cette approche factuelle transforme le réemploi en choix stratégique, compatible avec les exigences ESG (environnementales, sociales et de gouvernance) et les contraintes économiques. Les bâtiments deviennent ainsi des portefeuilles d’actifs circulaires, mesurables et actionnables.

Who are your current customers and what are your potential markets?

We work mainly with institutional owners, property developers, public bodies and local authorities. These organisations manage large portfolios and face growing ESG requirements. In the long term, our solution is also aimed at construction SMEs through partners and marketplaces.

What are the benefits for your customers?

They save time and reduce their costs, risks and emissions – before value is lost and before experts need to be called in for an in-depth assessment. REON gives them a quantified view based on real market data. It is this multi-criteria, market-oriented approach that sets us apart, while many solutions remain purely advisory.

What are the next steps?

We are currently funding our development through the BRIDGE programme, jointly supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and Innosuisse. We are running pilot projects with Swiss real estate partners, developing our SaaS model and laying the foundations for a spin-off planned for 2026.

To conclude, what does your collaboration with Fri Up look like?

Fri Up provides strategic support and access to key networks, which are invaluable in taking REON from an innovative project to a credible, scalable market solution. Being rooted in the Fribourg ecosystem is also a major asset, thanks in particular to the Habitat 4.0 focus and the presence of EPFL's Smart Living Lab at bluefactory.