The Oil Sustainability Program (OSP), in partnership with PIF, the Saudi Investment Recycling Company (SIRC), NEOM (represented by the Design and Construction Sector), SIKA, and ClimateCrete, has announced the establishment of the “NovusCrete” Consortium through a Memorandum of Understanding.  

This groundbreaking collaborative initiative aims to spearhead innovation in sustainable concrete solutions while prioritizing localization through the use of seawater, polymer-based materials, recycled construction and demolition waste, and fine sand.  

The consortium is dedicated to creating new opportunities within the building, construction, and manufacturing sectors, fostering technologies that deliver both sustainability and cost efficiency. Additionally, it boasts support from leading entities, including the American Concrete Institute (ACI), which will facilitate the adoption of seawater concrete applications reinforced with Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) rebars and other sustainable materials to reduce the environmental impact of these sectors. 

At the forefront of this initiative is ClimateCrete, a pioneering company leveraging patented technology developed at KAUST.  

ClimateCrete transforms abundant but mostly unusable fine sand from the Arabian Peninsula into high-quality sand suitable for concrete, significantly reducing the need for cement and cutting CO2 emissions by up to 60%. This advancement not only enhances the quality and durability of concrete but also addresses the global shortage of suitable construction sand.  

With ongoing investment in Saudi Arabia's real estate and infrastructure projected growing each year, ClimateCrete is strategically positioned for growth and to support the Kingdom's ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060. Co-founded by Professor Jorge Gascon, Professor of Chemical Engineering at KAUST, and Dr. William McDonough, distinguished research professor at KAUST and recognized as one of TIME's 100 most influential climate leaders in business in 2023, ClimateCrete exemplifies KAUST's vital role in fostering a robust deep-tech startup ecosystem, poised to revolutionize the construction industry while making significant contributions to global sustainability efforts.