Concretene and GEIC proud to partner for another three years
We are pleased to announce that pioneering construction-tech firm has chosen the as its base to support manufacturing upscale. The Tier 1 partnership provides laboratory space and extensive access to equipment for quality assurance of raw materials, formulations, and concrete products.
Developed with the support of engineers at The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ since 2019, Concretene is a graphene-enhanced admixture for concrete that improves compressive strength and durability, enabling removal of cement and a reduced carbon footprint.
The company has extended its production and materials testing facility in the adjacent Pariser Building – part of the new – taking advantage of the advanced materials ecosystem delivered by the GEIC.
Concretene is one of several technologies being developed and applied at the GEIC to explore the potential of graphene in construction. It aims to create a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for the industry by increasing the service life of concrete and reducing cement requirements.
This is an ideal case study for ‘the òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ model’ of innovation, whereby an idea for the exploitation of nanomaterials is grown through The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ to become a spin-out company, creating high-value jobs and encouraging inward investment in the city.
Concretene has attracted £1.9m of UK government funding and £6m of venture capital investment since its incorporation in late 2022 and has grown to a staff of 20.
Three Innovate UK-funded projects have delivered significant advances in the application of graphene-enhanced concrete:
- GraphEnhance – scale-up of graphene and graphene oxide supply chain (with and ).
- SMART – pre-cast foundation pilings (with )
- GCRE – low-carbon railway sleepers (with )
Prototype trials have demonstrated compressive strength increases up to 50% in ready-mix applications and 15-20% in pre-cast, all showing compatibility with existing low-carbon concrete mixes incorporating cement replacements (CEM II limestone, CEM III GGBS).
Tests by the Building Research Establishment (BRE) on Concretene’s low-carbon railway sleeper for Cemex have indicated improvements in durability, notably to mitigate shrinkage – a common problem for low-carbon concretes that can lead to cracking and shorter service life.
Collaboration is ongoing with ARUP – the global design and engineering consultancy, which is one of – and a range of material suppliers to hone specifications for different concrete mixes and applications, with a programme of further scaled trials upcoming to produce the robust dataset required for product certification and launch.
James Baker, CEO of Graphene@òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to support Concretene’s journey as a standout example of how graphene innovation at the GEIC can scale into real-world industrial impact. Their progress reflects the strength of our collaborative model, which brings together engineers, researchers and industry to tackle global challenges like decarbonising construction. Concretene represents the kind of transformative work we’re driving forward, and we continue to collaborate with a broad range of partners to accelerate the adoption of graphene-enhanced technologies that deliver both environmental and economic benefits.â€
Mike Harrison, CEO of Concretene, said:
“We’re really pleased to extend our deal with the GEIC for another three years. Having a dedicated formulation development facility, technical support and high-end microscopy and characterisation kit on site has been invaluable in the development of the product. The proximity of growth and maker space within the Sister Innovation District has allowed us to remain in òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµ and we are grateful of the support from this community.
“We look forward to building on our success to date with the GEIC, commissioning our pilot plant in the Pariser Building and supporting asset owners in their journey to decarbonise concrete in construction.â€
Advanced materials is one of The University of òòò½ÎÑÊÓÆµâ€™s research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships tackling some of the planet's biggest questions. #ResearchBeacons