ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND INVESTMENT CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-8273/2026-13-12

Keywords:

additive technologies, economic determinants of technological innovation, investment conditions for technological development, economic efficiency of construction technologies, digital transformation of the construction sector, innovation-driven development of the construction industry, Construction 4.0

Abstract

Introduction. The construction industry faces challenges of low productivity, high resource consumption, and growing demand for affordable housing and infrastructure. Additive technologies, particularly 3D printing of building components, are increasingly considered a key avenue for technological modernization and digital transformation of the sector. Their adoption also supports sustainability goals by reducing material waste and energy consumption. Purpose. The purpose of the article is to investigate the economic determinants and investment conditions for the development of additive technologies in construction. The study aims to identify key economic factors influencing their diffusion and to assess the investment conditions required for effective implementation. Methods. The research combines general scientific and economic methods, including system analysis, structural and functional analysis, comparative analysis, and scientific abstraction. These methods allowed the identification of macro-, sectoral-, and firm-level determinants and the evaluation of investment conditions, including cost structures and efficiency compared to traditional construction methods. Results. The study demonstrates that the development of additive technologies depends on multiple factors: global demand for affordable housing, productivity gaps, digitalization of construction processes, and shortages of qualified labor. Additive construction technologies can reduce labor costs, minimize waste, and improve material efficiency. However, their implementation requires significant initial investments in specialized equipment, digital infrastructure, and workforce training. Conclusion. Additive technologies have strong potential to transform the construction industry by increasing productivity, reducing costs, and improving resource efficiency. Large-scale adoption depends on supportive regulatory frameworks, investment mechanisms, and technological infrastructure. Future development will rely on integrating digital design, automated production, and innovative construction materials. The findings highlight the importance of strategic planning and institutional support to fully realize the benefits of additive construction technologies.

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De Schutter G., Lesage K., Mechtcherine V., Nerella V. N., Habert G., Agusti-Juan I. (2018) Vision of 3D Printing with Concrete — Technical, Economic and Environmental Potentials. Cement and Concrete Research. Vol. 112, pp. 25–36. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.06.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cemconres.2018.06.001

Khoshnevis B. (2004) Automated Construction by Contour Crafting — Related Robotics and Information Technologies. Automation in Construction, Vol. 13, No. 1, pp. 5–19. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2003.08.012 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2003.08.012

Hopkinson N., Hague R. J. M., Dickens P. M. (eds.) (2006) Rapid Manufacturing: An Industrial Revolution for the Digital Age. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 285 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/0470033991 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/0470033991

Wohlers Associates. (2023) Wohlers Report 2023: 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing Global State of the Industry. Fort Collins: ASTM International, 425 p.

European Commission. (2021) Supporting Digitalisation of the Construction Sector and SMEs: Including Building Information Modelling. Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 146 p.

Forcael E., Morales C., Aguilar-Duque J. I., Rodríguez C., León-Albornoz V. (2025) Additive Manufacturing in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Review. Automation in Construction, Vol. 169, Art. 105864. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105864 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autcon.2024.105888

OECD. (2019) OECD Compendium of Productivity Indicators 2019. Paris: OECD Publishing, 132 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/b2774f97-en DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/b2774f97-en

Adaloudis M., Roca J. B. (2021) Sustainability Tradeoffs in the Built Environment: Additive Manufacturing in the Construction Industry. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 253, Art. 111534. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111534 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111534

Mohammad M., Masad E., Al-Ghamdi S. G. (2020) 3D Concrete Printing Sustainability: A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment. Buildings, Vol. 10, No. 12, Art. 245. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10120245 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings10120245

Nerella V. N., Krause M., Mechtcherine V. (2019) Practice-Oriented Buildability Criteria for Developing 3D-Printable Concretes in the Context of Digital Construction. E3S Web of Conferences, Vol. 97, Art. 02010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201808.0441.v1

Motamedi M., Aghdam K. A., Mortazavi S. E. (2023) Feasibility of Construction of Buildings with the 3D Printing Concrete from Different Methods Perspectives Focusing on Economic Evaluation. AUT Journal of Civil Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 1, pp. 27–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22060/ajce.2023.21785.5855

ING Economics Department. (2019) ConTech: Technology in Construction - Construction Sector Digitalising but Showing Little Industrialisation. Amsterdam: ING, 18 p.

Kucher R., Liaposhchenko O., Oliinyk O. (2024) Additive Technologies in Modern Construction Production: Technical, Economic and Organizational Aspects. Cutting & Tools in Technological System, Vol. 101, pp. 103–112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20998/2078-7405.2024.101.10 DOI: https://doi.org/10.20998/2078-7405.2024.101.10

Hossain M. A., Zhumabekova A., Paul S. C., Kim J. R. (2020) A Review of 3D Printing in Construction and its Impact on the Labor Market. Sustainability, Vol. 12, No. 20, Art. 8492. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208492 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12208492

World Bank. (2018) Productivity Revisited: Shifting Paradigms in Analysis and Policy. Washington, DC: World Bank, 222 p. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1334-4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1596/978-1-4648-1334-4

Published

2026-06-19

How to Cite

Korytko, D. (2026). ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS AND INVESTMENT CONDITIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADDITIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY. The Ukrainian Economic Journal, (13), 83–89. https://doi.org/10.32782/2786-8273/2026-13-12