The Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) has named the 15 anticipated deliverers of low-CO2 cement and concrete production shortlisted for participation in its second Innovandi Open Challenge. The association chose the start-ups based on their potential to deliver CO2 emissions reduction in the global cement and concrete sector in line with its Concrete Future 2050 Net Zero Roadmap. The applicants are presenting their pitches to GCCA members on 30 June 2023. All those accepted will gain access to members’ plants, labs, networks and expertise. The following start-ups made the Innovandi Open Challenge 2023 shortlist:
| Arrakis Materials | US | Carbon negative materials for concrete |
| Chement | US | Room temperature cement production |
| EcoAdmix Global | UK | Nanotechnology (‘HDT’) for concrete |
| EcoLocked | Germany | Biocarbon-based admixtures |
| EnviCore | Canada | Low temperature supplementary cementitious material production |
| Enzymatic | US | Carbon negative enzymatic concrete corrosion inhibition and recycling |
| Louis Structures | US | Municipal solid waste-based lightweight aggregates |
| MEP – SeaMix | US | Basalt fibre and graphene-based admixture |
| Nano Crete | US | Graphene-enhanced CO2 sequestration |
| Nanospan India | India | Graphene-based admixture |
| NeoCrete | New Zealand | Nano-activator for natural pozzolans |
| Queens Carbon | US | ~500°C cementitious materials production |
| The Cool Corporation | UK | Carbon negative carbon nanotube-based additive for concrete |
| Ultra High Materials | US | Clinkerless cement |
| Versarien Graphene | UK | Graphene-based admixture (‘Cementene’) |
GCCA cement director and innovation lead Claude Loréa said “We received more than 70 quality applications, so drawing up a shortlist was challenging.” Loréa continued “Our essential industry needs something easily scalable and affordable. Those start-ups on the list demonstrated the most potential, and we look forward to hearing more about their ideas. But we’ll also be keeping in touch with other start-ups who didn’t make this year’s shortlist, with future projects in mind.”
