Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Government of Canada will give $17.5 million to Giatec Scientific Inc. to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction industry.
The funding will support Giatec’s $65.8-million project to develop a smart concrete demonstration plant in Ottawa, utilizing the company’s innovative SmartMix technology. This facility will leverage artificial intelligence to optimize concrete mixtures, resulting in improved material quality and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Giatec Scientific Inc., founded in 2011, is dedicated to integrating sustainable technologies within the concrete industry. The investment will facilitate the creation of an AI-enabled digital platform that will benefit various stakeholders, including cement and aggregate producers, ready-mix suppliers, and construction companies.
“This funding is a significant step forward for Giatec as we embark on our three-year research and development project,” stated Pouria Ghods, CEO and co-founder of Giatec. “Our vision is to revolutionize the concrete industry and help build more sustainable, efficient, and durable infrastructure.”
The new SmartMix platform aims to design cost-optimized concrete mixes, ultimately contributing to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from concrete manufacturing by up to 20 per cent through the use of less cement.
Canada’s Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete by 2050, aims to reduce more than 15 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions cumulatively by 2030 and over 4 megatonnes annually thereafter. The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) is designed to propel innovative projects that support economic growth and environmental sustainability across all sectors.
