The real estate industry has spent years talking about smart buildings, but the next shift is already underway. In an interview with Property Forum, Delphine Clément, Global Head of Verticals at Siemens Smart Infrastructure Buildings, explains why autonomy, powered by AI, real-time data and integrated systems, is set to redefine how buildings are operated, valued and experienced.

CEE's real estate market enters the second quarter of 2026 in a mood of measured confidence. According to Property Forum's survey of nearly 200 real estate professionals from across the region, the majority expect either stable but selective deal flow or a moderate recovery in transaction activity over the next 12 months. Regional CEE investors are seen as the primary engine of dealmaking, while foreign capital is expected to return only selectively. Residential and logistics assets lead on risk-adjusted appeal, and Poland remains the undisputed long-term growth leader. Yet beneath the cautious optimism, one concern towers above all others: geopolitical tensions, cited by nearly two-thirds of respondents as the greatest threat to the market.

Real estate leaders are pivoting toward agentic AI, which moves beyond simple chatbots. These systems combine autonomy, planning, and memory to execute proactive, goal-driven tasks with appropriate approvals and logging, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.

The European data centre sector is entering a period of unprecedented expansion, with operators expecting to commission an average of 67MW of capacity in 2026. 

The decision to implement new technology often meets a common internal roadblock due to unknown challenges, according to an opinion by Imre-Gustav Vellamaa of R8 Technologies.

Institutional investors are returning to key European markets, and transaction volumes are expected to rise steadily after a period of reassessment in 2024-2025, according to a Colliers report.

Older buildings usually consume more energy in operation than new construction. That is not only a cost issue. It also affects how an asset performs against market standards like BREEAM, EU Taxonomy, and CRREM, as well as regulations such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive and the rules for Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS). Many owners assume the only way to close the gap is a major refurbishment. Better insulation and new equipment certainly help, but they are expensive and disruptive. Investments in deep fabric and equipment upgrades can reach one to five percent of the asset value.

Charles Boudet, CEO of iO Partners, described for Property Forum how AI and digitalisation are reshaping real estate in CEE. From innovative tools like iO4Land to strategic expansion in Austria and Serbia, the company is looking to drive efficiency, growth, and resilience across multiple sectors.

DL Invest Group, a commercial real estate investor and developer in CEE, has entered into a joint venture partnership with Boosteroid, a cloud gaming and cloud solutions provider specialising in cloud and data centre technologies.

The European real estate industry has shifted from cautious optimism to pragmatism as geopolitical and economic uncertainty continues to temper investment activity, according to the latest report by PwC and the Urban Land Institute.