Priority Programme “Net-Zero Concrete” (SPP 2436)
In March 2023, the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) established the Priority Programme “Net-Zero Concrete” (SPP 2436). The programme is designed to run for six years. The present call invites proposals for the second three-year funding period.
Challenge
The production of concrete is responsible for approximately 7 percent of the global CO2 emissions. Hence, there is an urgent need to significantly cut back on CO2 emissions and to work on scientifically driven solutions for CO2-neutral (Net-Zero) concrete. For this, all common industrial procedures for cement and concrete production should be challenged to significantly reduce their CO2 footprint. Such procedures include clinker production, cement composition, aggregate production, carbonation and carbon capture utilisation.
Objectives and Scope of the Programme
Within this SPP, novel research pathways towards climate-neutral concrete will be pursued and explored. To achieve this, a multidisciplinary research approach is envisioned, covering cement chemistry, concrete technology and related scientific areas such as physical chemistry (reaction thermodynamics and kinetics) and physics of materials, but also reusability and adaptability of resources and production procedures.
Therefore, the Priority Programme addresses the following main objective: pursuing a Net-Zero concrete based on alternative binders, renewable aggregates and carbonation strategies. The following three sub-objectives are considered to achieve this:
experimental and numerical research on alternative binders and CO2-free clinker raw materials in terms of composition, reactivity and dissolution of the individual phases and their CO2 interactions
development of waste-based and/or renewable aggregate systems that have the potential to absorb CO2 and will be fully recyclable and/or reusable in an end-of-life scenario
development of advanced concrete carbonation strategies to maximise CO2 uptake in concrete during and after service life
In the first funding period of the Priority Programme “Net-Zero Concrete”, the following three research modules were defined and have since been intensively investigated (see (interner Link) and (externer Link)):
Module 1: Alternative and Carbon Neutral Binders
Module 2: Construction Demolition Waste and Renewable Aggregates
Module 3: Concrete Carbon Capture and Long-Term Carbon Sink
The second funding period builds on the results achieved so far in the first funding period, which are briefly summarised as follows:
Scientific progress on alternative and carbon-reduced/carbon-neutral binders is made with emphasis on supplementary and carbon-binding materials to attain clinker reduction and aiming for a climate-neutral binder system. Other scientific results refer to active capturing and/or usage of CO2 in low-carbon or recycled binder systems to pursue Net-Zero binders.
Various Net-Zero aggregate systems, based on construction demolition waste or biochars, are under development as a carbon sink for CO2 by considering different crystalline stages of carbonation. At the same time, the first results of systems-based active carbon sequestration are being pursued to achieve carbon Net-Zero or even carbon-negative situations.
Carbon capture mechanisms for permanent binding or active use of CO2 in a binder system of new or existing concretes are under development. Here, first results show binding mechanisms or use of renewable or alternative materials, with defined porosities and enhanced accelerating binding reactions.
For the second funding period, objectives and scope will be redefined, including additional research fields where at least two of the three modules have to be addressed. At the same time, the following 5 generic research fields from the first funding period will also remain applicable for the second funding period:
alternative raw materials, low-carbon binder concepts, CO2-binding aggregates
CO2 binding mechanisms and/or its uptake potential
thermodynamic and/or kinetic approaches for reaction mechanisms
mechanisms for the development of physical-chemical properties
materials and microstructure-property relations
Additional research fields for this second funding period are:
paste and concrete circularity
recyclability and reactivation mechanisms
fundamental mechanisms for long-term durability and mechanical performance
upscaling, bridging mechanisms and demonstrators
- manufacturing processes enabling Net-Zero concrete
Topics not considered in the second funding period of this Priority Programme are:
large-scale manufacturing approaches, e.g. clinker burning technologies, additive manufacturing, carbon capture technologies, etc.
conventional aggregates and earth-based materials
structural engineering and/or design optimisations
steel or alternative reinforcement systems
Please submit your proposal in English to the DFG by 13 January 2027. Proposals are to be submitted solely via the (externer Link), the DFG’s electronic proposal processing system, in order to ensure proposal-related data is recorded and documents are securely transmitted. In order to achieve maximum diversity, each principal investigator (PI) may be involved only in one proposal.
Applicants who already receive funding under this Priority Programme and intend to submit a proposal for the renewal of their existing project need to use Proposal Submission – Proposal Overview/Renewal Proposal in elan. Here, the currently funded project is visible and should be selected for submission of the renewal proposal.
If you wish to submit a proposal for a new project within the existing Priority Programme, please go to Proposal Submission – New Project - Priority Programmes and select “SPP 2436”. from the current list of calls.
If this is the first time you are submitting a proposal to the DFG, please note that you must register in elan before you can submit your proposal. You must do so by 6 January 2027. Select “SPP 2436” during the registration process. You will normally receive confirmation of your registration by the next working day.
When preparing your proposal, please note the Guidelines Priority Programme ((interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”) and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals ((interner Link)). These forms are available on the DFG website and through the elan portal.
Equity and Diversity
The DFG strongly welcomes proposals from researchers of all genders and sexual identities, from different ethnic, cultural, religious, ideological or social backgrounds, from different career stages, types of universities and research institutions, and with disabilities or chronic illness. With regard to the subject-specific focus of this call, the DFG encourages female researchers in particular to submit proposals.
Good Research Practice
According to a resolution of the DFG General Assembly, DFG funding may only be awarded to research institutions that have implemented the guidelines laid down in the (externer Link) in their own regulations. The management of your institution is responsible for implementing the guidelines in a legally binding manner. In order to avoid delays in the disbursement of funding, please verify implementation within your institution in good time. For information regarding the implementation, please refer to the (externer Link). If you have any questions on this subject, please contact the (externer Link) at the DFG Head Office.
Further Information
Please see (externer Link) for detailed information.
When submitting a proposal, please use the (externer Link) and refer to the Guidelines Priority Programme ((interner Link), section B “Individual Projects within Existing Priority Programmes”), and the Proposal Preparation Instructions – Project Proposals ((interner Link)). The (interner Link) may also be helpful.
For scientific enquiries, please contact the Priority Programme coordinator:
(externer Link), Technische Universität Darmstadt, Tel. +49 6151-16-22210
Contact Persons at the DFG Head Office
Programme contact: (externer Link), Engineering Sciences 1, Tel. +49 228 885-2655
Administrative contact: (externer Link), Engineering Sciences 1, Tel. +49 228 885-2447
Privacy Policy
We, the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), take the protection of your personal data and its confidential treatment extremely seriously. Therefore, please refer to the DFG’s (interner Link). If you intend to transmit personal data of third parties, please make sure to do so only if the necessary legitimation under data protection law exist. Before transmitting data of third parties to the DFG, please forward the DFG’s Data Protection Notice to the individuals affected (data subjects). If there is a legitimate interest not to inform individuals beforehand (e.g. for reasons of secrecy or in case of a nomination or candidate proposal), these individuals should be informed no later than at the time of publication.