CILANTRO Joins Forces with Sister Projects to Launch the EIC Cement & Concrete Portfolio

A Shared Vision for Carbon-Negative Construction

We are delighted to announce the official launch of the EIC Cement and Concrete Portfolio online platform: eic-carbonsink.eu!

Created under the European Innovation Council (EIC) Pathfinder Challenge “Towards cement and concrete as a carbon sink”, this joint initiative brings CILANTRO together with five pioneering EU-funded research projects: CONCERTO, C-SINC, ECO-SLAG-CEM, MOJITO, and X-SeeO₂.

Together, our shared mission is to transform cement and concrete – traditionally major drivers of industrial carbon emissions – into carbon-negative assets for Europe’s built environment.

How CILANTRO Fits In

Decarbonising the construction sector requires tackling emissions from multiple angles. Within the portfolio, CILANTRO contributes through our breakthrough research into room-temperature tribochemical synthesis.

By eliminating the need for high-heat industrial kilns and avoiding limestone calcination, CILANTRO aims to eliminate core process emissions at their source without relying on expensive carbon capture infrastructure.

Four Key Pillars of Collaboration

Through this portfolio, all six projects are aligning their efforts across four critical focus areas:

• Novel Binders & Alternative Chemistry: Replacing traditional clinker with low-carbon alternatives.

• Energy & Emissions Reduction: Cutting thermal energy demands and eliminating direct process emissions.

• Advanced Enabling Technologies: Using AI modeling and advanced material characterisation.

• Standardisation & Market Readiness: Navigating EU certification, CE marking, and building codes early to ensure real-world adoption.

Explore the Hub

Visit the new joint hub at eic-carbonsink.eu to read our official joint press release, meet our sister projects, and follow our progress as we work to build a net-zero future for European construction!

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.