Cement and Concrete Innovation

Innovation is key to unlocking our net zero future and securing the long-term viability of our sector

Innovation is a key part of the GCCA Mission. Driving, supporting and advocating innovation in the cement and concrete sector is key to improving its sustainability and lowering its CO2 footprint.

Innovandi is the GCCA innovation arm, which runs three world class innovation platforms to accelerate and foster innovation to help the industry decarbonise and produce carbon neutral concrete by 2050.

Key innovation areas we are exploring include: 

  • Innovation in cement production – continuous innovations have already been delivered such as greater kiln and energy efficiencies, and many compelling projects are in progress. However, with our commitment to deliver net zero, the focus is now on breakthrough technologies such as CCUS and process electrification. Modern cement plants operate today at, or close to, the theoretical limits of efficiency, and therefore the deployment of CCUS is an essential technology in the short to medium term perspective to meet future global climate change goals.
  • Innovative cements including both new clinker substitutes and new types of clinker – there are a lot of interesting approaches in development, and it is expected that from a mid-term perspective new binding materials and systems will develop and enter the market for niche products.
  • Business and services innovation in the whole value chain including digitisation and BIM.

The ECRA/ GCCA 2022 Technology Papers summarises the expected developments in the major technological fields i.e. thermal and electric energy efficiency, reduction of the clinker cement content, new binding materials, CO2 capture and storage an CO2 use.

Innovandi

Global Cement and Concrete Research Network

The Innovandi GCCRN develops collaboration between industry and academia on groundbreaking research

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Innovandi

Open Challenge

The Open Challenge is a programme to partner innovative start-ups with GCCA member companies to accelerate development of new technologies for the cement and concrete industry

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Learn more about our key innovation areas

Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage

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Clinker Substitutes and Types of SCMs

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Alternative Binders

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