GCCA LAUNCHES ‘INNOVANDI – THE GLOBAL CEMENT AND CONCRETE RESEARCH NETWORK’

The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA)
has announced the formation of Innovandi – the Global Cement and Concrete
Research Network.

The network ties together the cement and concrete
industry with scientific institutions to drive and support global innovation
with actionable research.

It aims to decisively build on the industry’s
sustainability progress such as achieving an 18.3% reduction in CO₂
per tonne of cementitious product since 1990 and increasing the use of
alternative fuels eight-fold in that same timeframe.

Launching the Innovandi research network at the
GCCA Annual Conference in Singapore, Benjamin Sporton, GCCA CEO said:

“Our industry is fully committed to taking action
to reduce CO₂ emissions. As such, Innovandi is an industry led
initiative and will bring together the best minds from all corners of the
cement and concrete world, academia and business. Together, we will truly
collaborate on a global scale and use our expertise to find new ways of working
and developing effective innovations.

“This will really help to ensure that concrete
becomes the sustainable building material of choice for the future needs of the
world.”

The network intends to research the areas of
process technology (including the impact of co-processing, efficiency of
clinker production and implementation of CCUS/ technologies) and products. This
will include the impact of clinker substitutes and alternative binders in concrete,
low carbon concrete technology and improve the understanding of CO2 reduction
through re-carbonation.

Wolfgang Dienemann, Director of Global Research
& Development at HeidelbergCement and co-chair of the GCCA Innovation
Working Group said:

“The industry has a long and proud history of
innovation, and of research and development – whether from within the sector or
through academic institutions. However, Innovandi will accelerate that good
work and bring the smart thinking more closely together. Given the urgency of
the challenge it is the right thing to do and I am delighted that we are taking
such a strong step forward by launching the Global Cement and Concrete Research
Network today.”

24 companies from across the cement and concrete
industry, including cement and concrete manufacturers, admixture specialists
and equipment suppliers, have already committed to the initiative, with
scientific institutions and additional companies set to join as its work begins
work.

As part of the new initiative, the GCCA also
intends to establish an annual Innovandi global conference to promote
collaboration on innovation and research in the sector. Going forward, it will
a be an integral part of the GCCA’s annual conference, which this year is
taking place on 10^th October in Singapore.

More information from Thomas Cooper, Tel: +44
7983 921719 / 

email: Thomas.cooper@kekstcnc.com