Global Cement and Concrete Association: Innovandi Open Challenge 2024

The Innovandi Open Challenge is a global programme which brings together tech start-ups and the world’s leading cement and concrete companies to help accelerate the next wave of innovations to achieve our net zero mission.

The GCCA and its members understand the key role that innovation will play in unlocking a net zero future for concrete, the world’s most used material after water, which is essential to building the sustainable world of tomorrow.

GCCA members – leaders in the sector who operate in almost every country across the globe – are extending their reach beyond their own R&D boundaries to enrich their innovation ecosystems in order to help achieve the vital mission of carbon neutrality. Our Open Challenge seeks to accelerate the technologies that will help us in securing a net zero future.

GCCA is this year challenging the start-ups world on innovations related to our Net Zero GCCA Roadmap main decarbonisation lever with an impact at scale to tackle climate change: Carbon Capture Use and Storage for low carbon concrete (e.g., innovative capture technologies both process integrated and end-of-pipe, CO2 use, etc..)

Benefits and rewards

Selected start-ups will gain unique access to plants and labs through this program, as well as expertise and infrastructure of 40 members across the world to showcase innovation status: move from ideas to prototype, pilot-tests, proofs of concepts, business cases. In other words, the program will provide start-ups with the access they need to grow.

Throughout the program duration, start-ups will receive guidance from the GCCA and its industrials members of nominated lead experts to help them progress in the industrialisation of their technology, develop new technologies and/or define new business cases with one or several industrial members. Members of the GCCA, and its members will internally manage the project (or in partnership with other business partners) with each selected start-up and offer resources, support and coaching to co-develop the business.

Further collaboration for each project will be discussed on a case-by-case basis.

Scope and exclusions

We are looking for start-ups working on Carbon Capture Use and Storage for low carbon concrete (e.g., innovative capture technologies both process integrated and end-of-pipe, CO2 use , etc.)

In case of carbon capture, it should be “point source” carbon capture.
In case of CO2 use, scaling and deployment potential.

Other judging criteria:

• Innovative and unique compared to other carbon capture technologies
• Environmental assessment
• Energy intensity?
• Water intensity?
• Any waste heat utilisation requirement?
• Any other pre-requisites for the process?

Exclusions:

• No direct air capture technologies
• No kiln electrification
• No alternative fuels or low carbon fuels/ hydrogen
• No CO₂ transport and storage solution apart from mineralisation