# Advancing BIM and Sustainability with Coopetition: Evidence from the Portuguese Stone Industry
## 1 Introduction  
The construction industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, with projected growth expected to exceed USD 4.2 trillion over the next 15 years [1]. Despite its significance, this industry faces persistent challenges, including inefficiency, high costs, prolonged timelines, and substantial ecological impacts [2]. These issues have prompted governments and scholars to advocate for adopting Building Information Modelling (BIM) [3], which promises to enhance efficiency and sustainability in construction by creating comprehensive digital representations of physical and functional characteristics [4].  
However, despite intense activity surrounding BIM and its numerous potential benefits, its practical impact has yet to be fully realized [5]. One reason for this gap may be that construction manufacturing companies [6], which are responsible for producing upstream parts and products used downstream in construction, are often overlooked in discussions of BIM's potential benefits found in the management literature [7].  
This oversight results in a significant gap in understanding how construction manufacturing companies operating upstream in the construction process can align their operations to meet the requirements of various BIM dimensions [8]. Given that a specific construction element produced by a manufacturing company impacts the construction project regarding time, cost, and ecological footprint--representing the fourth, fifth, and sixth BIMdimensions--it follows that to fully realize BIM's potential, construction manufacturing companies must effectively align their production with these dimensions [9].  
A promising approach to addressing current enterprise challenges arising from global digitalization is the concept of coopetition networks [10], which combine competition and cooperation for mutual benefits [11]. Recommended by official entities to respond to the modern challenges faced by SMEs, such as those outlined by the European Union [12], coopetition could be a solution for aligning construction manufacturing company activities with BIM requirements.  
Among the various industrial sectors supplying the construction industry, the ornamental stone sector has always been a significant contributor [13]. This sector, primarily composed of SMEs, provides elements for cladding, kitchen tops, and other applications essential for sustainable construction [14]. Can coopetition networks facilitate the alignment of ornamental stone companies with BIM requirements?  
To address this question, this study evaluates the potential of coopetition networks to meet BIM requirements within the Portuguese Ornamental Stone industry (OS-PT), a key sector in the national economy [15]. The investigation employs a case study methodology conducted through a coopetition experimental pilot network (CEPN) facilitated by an Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) artifact to connect the companies involved digitally. The study includes selected companies in the OS-PT sector and aims to determine whether adopting coopetition practices enables these companies to better align with BIM requirements.  
Due to cost constraints, the CEPN includes only three OS-PT companies. Despite this limitation, the study's findings provide valuable insights into the role of construction manufacturing companies in BIM-enhanced construction projects and highlight the potential impact of coopetition networks operating upstream in realizing BIM benefits downstream.