GCCA and ECRA announce strategic partnership
Key aim of partnership agreement to facilitate innovation in the sector and across the built environment
THE Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and European Cement Research Academy (ECRA) have today announced a formal partnership agreement. The strategic alliance is aimed at fostering innovation in the cement and concrete sectors and across their value chain partners.
Under the terms of the agreement, the GCCA and ECRA have granted each other mutual membership in order to facilitate effective collaboration. In addition, ECRA’s managing director will join the GCC’s partnership council and the GCCA’s cement director will join ECRA’s technical advisory council. The two parties will also share their current work programmes and identify key areas for future collaboration and input.
ECRA was founded in 2003 as a platform on which leading cement producers worldwide support and conduct research activities on the production of cement and its application in concrete. Its mission is to advance innovation in the cement industry within the context of sustainable development and to communicate the latest knowledge and research findings in cement and concrete technology.
Launched in January 2018, GCCA is dedicated to developing and strengthening the sector’s contribution to sustainable construction. The Association aims to foster innovation throughout the construction value chain, in collaboration with industry associations as well as architects, engineers and innovators, by demonstrating how concrete solutions can meet global construction challenges and sustainable development goals while showcasing responsible industrial leadership in the manufacture and use of cement and concrete.
Commenting on the partnership agreement, Benjamin Sporton, chief executive officer of the GCCA, said: ‘ECRA’s mission to advance innovation in the cement industry within the context of sustainable development, as well as communicating key knowledge and research findings in technology, fits perfectly with the GCCA’s aim of driving advances in sustainable construction. We fully expect the agreement to form the basis of a strong and long-lasting co-operation.’
Dr Martin Schneider, managing director of ECRA, said: ‘We are delighted to partner with the GCCA to advance the mission of innovation within the cement industry. We look forward to working together to find solutions to the key challenges facing the cement industry today.’
