MIPIM: The Future of Real Estate from a Global Perspective

The BSE|3D team headed to sunny Cannes for a week at MIPIM. Leticia and Dennis attended, and with the event centred around current conversations on the ever-growing industry. Cannes provided the space for open, meaningful conversations, many of them with people closely connected to the UK market, creating a strong foundation for continued dialogue as we head toward UKREiiF in May.

Across meetings with developers, investors, consultants, and technical specialists, several themes consistently emerged; including AI, ESG targets and external factors.

Data, AI, and digital decision-making are increasingly influencing how projects are delivered. These tools are enabling faster, more informed decisions and reshaping how projects are executed.

ESG targets and long-term operational efficiency are now central to investment and development strategies. The focus has shifted to attainable net zero targets.

Resilience has always been at the core of the industry, and today this is driven by climate, technological changes or market conditions.

It’s a truly global sector! International investment continues to shape development pipelines and market partnerships. It’s an interesting space with plenty of developments in the coming years.

One of the biggest topics of conversation was data centres and other critical infrastructure. With increasing pressure to deliver sustainable data centres and to support the growth of AI, this is prompting new conversations about what the future will look like.

Then data itself! The data available is vast, and it’s about how it can be used to improve building performance, reduce energy use and enhance user experience with technology.

For those working in MEP and global building services consultancy, these themes are influencing how projects are approached.

There are key aspects that are shaping projects from inception. Energy efficiency, building performance, digital infrastructure and operational resilience are defining new buildings.

More than ever, mechanical and electrical design plays a central role in achieving targets that will stand resilient in the future. The designs ideally must support new building standards and work in high-performing environments.

While in Cannes, the BSE|3D team met with new and old connections, and were able to further understand the industry direction and the opportunities that are shaping 2026

and beyond. One key thing is there is huge momentum across the global property industry.

It’s a reminder that real estate is not just about buildings but about anticipating how cities, technology, and society evolve together.

The BSE|3D team are looking forward to seeing how the industry evolves, and if you want to carry on the conversation, please get in touch at mail@bse3d.com.