Dr. Jialai Wang, professor in the Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and his research team were recognized at the 2025 Global Cement and Concrete Association Innovandi Open Challenge for their research project titled “High-Reactive Supplementary Cementitious Materials Derived from Recycled Concrete.”
According to the GCCA, the virtual Open Challenge is a global program that brings together tech startups and the world’s leading cement and concrete companies to accelerate the next wave of innovation in the construction materials sector.
This year’s challenge attracted pitches from engineering labs worldwide. Only 17 teams were selected for the first round, and 12 advanced to the second round. To qualify, each team had to generate interest from at least five participating companies.
Wang’s team received interest from eight companies, and they will have access to plants and labs through GCCA, as well as expertise and infrastructure of 40 members across the world to help further develop their research.
“We were truly excited to advance to the second round and to see strong interest from eight companies worldwide in our technology,” Wang said. “We are eager to take the next step in bringing this technology to market to deliver meaningful benefits for industry and society.
The team developed a cost-effective process that converts calcium-rich industrial waste into high-performance supplementary cementitious materials for concrete. Their research improves the material’s strength and significantly shortens curing time.
Wang’s technology reduces industrial pollution and carbon emissions, helping to mitigate climate change. It also creates new economic opportunities by turning waste into valuable resources for concrete producers.
“This pitch offered an excellent opportunity to provide our graduate students with hands-on exposure to translational research,” Wang said. “As a result, they gained a deeper appreciation for the real-world impact of our work and are more motivated to pursue research topics that can generate tangible benefits.”
Wang’s lab is preparing to test its technology at the National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Alabama. The team plans to collaborate with industry partners to accelerate adoption and deliver practical solutions to urgent environmental and industrial challenges.