Active storage of captured CO2 in net zero construction products

ASCCENT places UNIZG FCE (Croatia) in the forefront of the action for climate-neutral and sustainable EU, enabling contribution to net-zero of hard-to-abate construction sector, through networking for excellence with EU leaders from Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and France in the field of active storage/uptake of captured carbon in construction products. Project is based on the Net Zero Industry Act's recognition of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) as a strategic net-zero technology that plays a pivotal role in mitigating climate change. Building up on the excel of the EU in CO2 capture, ASCCENT focusses on strengthening UNIZG FCE research profile and innovation capacity in three pillars.1st pillar: ability to perform excellent research and innovation management in the field of active utilisation and storage of CO2 in construction products, by twinning with KU Leuven, Belgium, leading research institution on alternative binders, mineral carbonation and carbon storage.2nd pillar: ability to perform objective validation through sustainability assessment of net-zero technologies using state-of-the-art digital tools by twinning with Aalborg University, Denmark, leading research institution in life-cycle assessment (LCA) and life-cycle thinking (LCT).3rd pillar: increasing the capacity for attracting innovation investment and building stronger academia-industry partnerships, by twinning with RISE, Sweden, research centre ensuring collaboration between industry, academia and public sector, and Holcim Innovation Centre, France, leading industrial R&D centre and major construction materials’ actor.Through ASCCENT, UNIZG FCE will act as a catalyst for effective CO2 utilization, reducing underground storage needs, promoting sustainable waste management, creating net-zero construction products and advocating for their application. Due to UNIZG FCEs’ regional network, these results will have a spillover effect on important stakeholders in the ESEE region.