Dragana Cukic, member of the ACES Board of Directors – Without stable rules and partnerships, there is no innovation in construction

The construction sector in the region is undergoing a strong transformation, from the digitalization of processes to the strengthening of “green” standards and new models of cooperation between the public and private sectors.

In such an environment, a multidisciplinary approach becomes a condition for success: engineering knowledge must be combined with business logic, legal framework and social interest.

We discuss these trends and the role of the profession with Dragana Cukic, consulting engineer, member of the ACES Board of Directors (Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia), Vice President of CDRC, ACES Adjudicator, on the occasion of the ACES Future Trends 2025 conference.

The ACES Future Trends 2025 conference has been recognized as one of the central regional gathering places for the profession, from engineers and lawyers to IT experts and investors. How important are such multidisciplinary meetings and what do you think the combination of engineering knowledge and business perspective brings?

– ACES brings together all relevant categories of participants in the construction industry, not only consulting engineers and contractors, but also lawyers - legal consultants, universities, non-governmental organizations, material and equipment manufacturers, insurance companies, and such a multidisciplinary composition is also transferred to our annual regional conference.

Construction today is not just a technical field. Projects are increasingly complex, and their success depends on the ability to combine knowledge and perspectives from different fields.

Multidisciplinary meetings, such as the ACES Future Trends conference, enable the exchange of experiences, better communication between participants in the construction project implementation process and, most importantly, create a foundation for a common understanding of goals.

When engineering expertise is combined with business logic and broader social interest, it results in higher quality, more sustainable and more innovative projects.

The conference places a strong emphasis on innovation and the future of construction, from 3D printing to artificial intelligence and digital technologies. How do you see the role of consulting engineers in ensuring that these innovations come to life in practice and become the standard, not the exception?

– Consulting engineers play a significant role in the journey from innovative ideas to their real-world implementation on projects. They can be a bridge between innovative technologies, regulations and practical implementation.

In order for the implementation of innovative technologies to become the standard, it is necessary for consulting engineers to recognize where and how these technologies bring added value, to help investors make informed decisions and to motivate project teams to implement them.

That is why the competencies that engineers need to possess today are much broader than before: in addition to technical knowledge, they need to understand the processes, data and risks that come with new technologies.

Global trends, such as “green projects” and energy efficiency, are becoming an obligation, not an option. How prepared are companies to respond to these standards?

– Today, we can see a growing awareness of the importance of implementing sustainability standards, but also real differences in the willingness of companies to implement them.

Large systems and international companies generally already have clear strategies and resources to respond to “green” standards, while smaller players are often still looking for ways to integrate them into their business.

What is encouraging is that the market is increasingly recognizing sustainability as a competitive advantage, and not just as a cost.

I believe that in the coming years, economic factors, through energy prices, financial instruments and regulations, will further accelerate this transformation and make sustainability a real priority, and not just a declarative goal.

As a member of the ACES Board of Directors and Vice President of the CDRC, you emphasize the importance of cooperation between the public and private sectors. What, in your opinion, would contribute most to improving this cooperation in the coming period?

– ACES has been actively participating in regulatory reforms in the construction sector for years. High-quality cooperation between the public, private and non-governmental sectors is crucial for the development of society as a whole, including the construction industry, because many innovations and quality standards can only come to life if they are supported by the public sector.

In my opinion, the greatest contribution would be made by strengthening the regulatory environment in terms of stability and predictability and consistent implementation of existing regulations.

Also, a knowledge-based partnership is needed - to include both the profession and market actors to a greater extent in the development of regulations, public procurement or standards.

When the public sector becomes a strategic partner, and not just a client, then innovations can become part of everyday practice. That is exactly what ACES is working on - to connect all participants through professional dialogue and contribute to greater trust and transparency in the sector.

Udruženje inženjera konsultanata Srbije - ACES

ACES

Association of Consulting Engineers of Serbia

ACES Future Trends 2025 conference

Dragana Čukić

construction

green projects