Business Wire

GCCA

Share
Open Innovation Challenge Calls up Start-Ups in Drive Towards Net Zero Concrete

Start-ups from around the world can play a leading role in helping an essential global industry in its efforts to cut CO2 emissions and help solve the climate challenge. They are being invited to apply for the Innovandi Open Challenge, an exciting international partnership programme, run by the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and its member companies across the world.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314005357/en/

To view this piece of content from mms.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

Applications for the 2023 GCCA Innovandi Open Challenge are now open (Graphic: Business Wire)

Applicants are being asked to work on the development of new materials and ingredients for low carbon concrete – a major step towards the ultimate goal of net zero concrete.

Innovation can help further unlock the delivery of low carbon concrete by reducing the amount of clinker used - the carbon intensive element of cement - or by using the most cutting-edge manufacturing processes. Alternative materials, including construction and demolition waste, can result in much lower CO2 emissions than concrete made in the traditional method, as well as reduce the need to use virgin raw materials.

The global challenge matches start-up companies with some of the world’s leading cement and concrete manufacturers, who operate in almost every country across the world, to work on initiatives to cut emissions and pioneer environmental change across the industry.

The GCCA and its members account for 80% of global cement production capacity outside of China, as well as some key Chinese manufacturers. Member companies have committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating CO2 emissions in concrete (which currently account for around 7% globally), through implementation of the GCCA’s Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap – the first heavy industry to set out such a detailed plan.

The launch follows the success of last year’s first ever Innovandi Open Challenge, which saw cement companies partnering with six start-ups, with a strong focus on carbon capture and utilisation projects. Three of those projects have already gone to pilot stage.

Thomas Guillot, Chief Executive of the GCCA, said:

“We’re calling on the best and the brightest from around the world to join us in the urgent fight to limit global warming and help towards delivering the great prize of net zero concrete. If you are a start up from Austria to Australia, from Brazil to Bangladesh, with an innovative idea or technology, then we want to hear from you.”

“Concrete is the second most used substance on earth after water and is a vital part of our modern infrastructure. The GCCA and all our members are working hard to reduce emissions. And start-ups can play a big role in helping us to do that.”

Start-ups can find more information and apply to take part in the Innovandi Open Challenge by going to the GCCA Open Challenge webpage:

https://gccassociation.org/innovandi/openchallenge/oc2023

Those companies who are accepted for this year’s Innovandi Open Challenge, will gain unique access to industry plants, labs, key networks and the expertise and infrastructure of the GCCA’s 40 members from around the world. They will also receive guidance from the GCCA and its members to help them with the development of new technology and business cases.

Claude Loréa, GCCA Cement Director and Innovation Lead said:

“We’ve already seen some remarkable progress from those start-ups who’ve been working with our members on the first Innovandi Open Challenge, with several projects already in the pilot stage. This year’s theme, low carbon concrete, is equally challenging. To succeed, we need products which are affordable, scalable, and easily adopted. Good luck to all this year’s applicants. We look forward to working with those selected.”

Natalie Giglio is Senior Business Development Associate, at Carbon Upcycling Technologies in Canada, which took part in the first Innovandi Open Challenge. She encourages all start-ups interested in working on net-zero initiatives to apply:

"The Innovandi program is specifically designed to foster collaboration among the largest global cement producers, and start-ups, which is an opportunity unique to this challenge. Our initiative focused on validating materials at the lab scale, and now the results have set a foundation for further collaboration and project development.”

/ Ends

Notes to editors:

The Innovandi Open Challenge is open to applicants from 14th March 2023, with applications closing on 30th May 2023.

For more information click here:

Additional quotes from start-ups which have taken part in the 1st Innovandi Open Challenge:

Carbon BioCapture is based in the USA and has patented technology for CO2 capture using microalgae (microscopic algae invisible to the naked eye.) CEO Andrea Irarrazaval said: “It has been a great opportunity and an honour for Carbon BioCapture (CBC) to be selected in GCCA's Open Challenge global programme… Participation provides valuable means for tech start-ups to access, obtain growth assistance, and help to demonstrate their technology potential to the critical cement and concrete global industry."

CarbonOrO, based in the Netherlands, specializes in carbon capture technology using unique bi-phasic amine. Spokesperson Jan Hoppenbrouwers said: “There is a lot of talk about carbon capture, utilisation and storage but worldwide, we need to accelerate the number of pilots and move towards commercial scale roll-out. GCCA members and their consortia’s joined efforts have all the characteristics to change this. So, our advice, participate in this challenge.”

Coomtech based in the UK, has developed a low energy, low cost drying technology using managed turbulent air, creating kinetic energy to remove moisture. Founder Chris Every said: “Coomtech took part in the Innovandi Open Challenge to showcase its technology at a global level to the cement and concrete industry. Innovandi has been highly supportive and is commercially attuned to new technologies. The connections the program makes are an excellent springboard for emerging technology businesses focused on the vital cement and concrete sector.”

Fortera, based in the USA, uses technology to capture CO2 emissions from cement plants, combining it with calcium oxide to make reactive calcium carbonate. Vice President Kas Farsad, said: “The Innovandi Open Challenge platform allowed Fortera to engage multiple cement players simultaneously and really dig into not just industry pain points, but brainstorm on solutions with the broader industry in mind. Whether you're looking to launch a pilot plant or to validate a commercial offering, you'll get a committed consortium of GCCA members supporting your process."

MOF Technologies, based in the UK, is using modern sorbents called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) to engineer a filtration system to capture and remove CO2 from flue gas. Conor Hamill, Co-CEO said: “Having developed a carbon capture system that overcomes the traditional adoption barriers of energy and cost, we are thrilled to have had the opportunity to collaborate with GCCA members to bring our technology to the field. We are currently working with an innovative consortium to pilot our ultra-efficient Nuada technology which will validate its potential to provide the industry with a scalable low-cost carbon capture solution.”

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230314005357/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

H2SITE Secures EIC Accelerator Funding to Deploy a Flagship 1 TPD Ammonia Cracker Using Membrane Reactor Technology at a Port in North-West Europe3.7.2025 08:40:00 CEST | Press release

H2SITE has been awarded the EIC (European Innovation Council) Accelerator program for a project aimed at deploying a first-of-its-kind ammonia cracking unit capable of producing 1 ton of high-purity hydrogen per day. The system is based on H2SITE’s proprietary palladium-based membrane reactor technology, which enables the simultaneous catalytic decomposition of ammonia and selective hydrogen separation within a single unit. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702142283/en/ Ammonia Cracker using Membrane Reactor Technology This breakthrough technology offers several compelling advantages over conventional ammonia cracking processes: Lowest Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) from ammonia due to high efficiency and integrated operation Reduced energy consumption, operating at significantly lower temperatures (400–450 °C) than traditional cracking methods (typically 600–800 °C) High-purity hydrogen output, compliant

Curve Pay and Thales Join Forces to Securely Transform Digital Wallets on iPhone3.7.2025 08:00:00 CEST | Press release

This collaboration between Curve and Thales provides iOS users with greater control, flexibility, autonomy and digital-security for in-store contactless payments and digital wallets Curve, the ultimate digital wallet, today announced deepening its collaboration with Thales, the global leader in advanced technologies, delivering secure modern payment solutions for financial institutions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702696837/en/ Thales D1 Platform to power CURVE PAY (Photo: Thales) This partnership comes on the back of Curve launching Curve Pay on iOS, marking a watershed moment in mobile payments. This partnership is a significant step to reshaping everyday spending, allowing Curve customers to benefit from NFC payment directly in the Curve App for contactless payments in store for all end-users on iOS and Android. Curve Pay is underpinned by Thales’ D1 platform on iOS and Android in Europe which allows

Medimaps Group Launches In Europe TBS Osteo Next-Generation Software For Advanced Bone Microarchitecture Assessment3.7.2025 08:00:00 CEST | Press release

New TBS Osteo Advanced next-generation software enhances fracture risk detection beyond standard of care in osteoporosis, a silent disease affecting over 32 million Europeans1 TBS Osteo Advanced next-generation software to be rolled-out across Europe Broad clinical adoption reinforces TBS Osteo leadership in bone microarchitecture evaluation for fracture risk assessment Subscription-based model offers ongoing services and access to future clinical innovations Medimaps Group S.A., a global leader in AI-driven bone microarchitecture imaging solutions, announces the European launch of its MDR-cleared next-generation TBS Osteo Advanced software. Following the product launch in the United States last month, this next milestone reflects the company's commitment to advancing osteoporosis detection and bone health management worldwide. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702082335/en/ Medimaps' TBS Osteo next-generatio

ISDA and Ant International Lead New Industry Report on Use of Tokenised Bank Liabilities for FX Settlement and Cross-Border Payments Under Project Guardian3.7.2025 08:00:00 CEST | Press release

Report builds on shared ledger technology and industry expertise of the co-leads as well as members of the Project Guardian FX workstreamIt includes proposed principles for leveraging tokenised bank liabilities and shared ledgers to drive industry adoption of tokenisation and enable 24/7, real-time FX settlement and lower costs for businesses globally The International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA) and Ant International led the Project Guardian FX industry group to develop a new report for implementing tokenised bank liabilities and shared ledger in cross-border payments and foreign exchange (FX) settlement. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702791535/en/ Report on Use of Tokenised Bank Liabilities for Transaction Banking by ISDA and Ant International, under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) Project Guardian The joint report is produced under the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) Pr

Year-old European startup Maisa named alongside Google and Amazon in elite list of leading AI agent vendors in top global US research reports by Gartner3.7.2025 01:01:00 CEST | Press release

- First time a Spanish startup has made the list, thanks to its industry-first hallucination resistant ‘digital workers’ - AI startup is one of two European AI agent vendors in Gartner’s Hype Cycle report for Artificial Intelligence and Hype Cycle for the Future of Work lists Maisa, a rising star of enterprise AI, has been named by leading global research and advisory firm Gartner in its list of leading vendors for developing reliable AI agents. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250702640749/en/ Maisa founders David Villalón and Manuel Romero Inclusion in Gartner’s 2025 Hype Cycle for AI and Hype Cycle for the Future of Work marks the first time a Spanish startup has been mentioned in these influential reports. The company, which is barely a year old and made its first raise of $5m+ from leading US investors last year, now finds itself named alongside global giants Amazon Web Services, Google, Salesforce and Lan

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye