DCM students win the Tapojärvi Innovation Challenge

 

The innovative project, developed by Huseyin Cetinkaya, Mavis Olorunyomi, Fabiola Dodaj, and Shah Saud, is a revolutionary innovation that transforms mining industry waste into high-quality concrete with self-healing properties.

 

GeoCura's geopolymer concrete uses copper mining tailings and fly ash as raw materials. In addition, it contains the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which is activated in contact with moisture and repairs microcracks by forming calcium carbonate. This significantly extends the lifespan of concrete structures and reduces maintenance costs.

The product combines three characteristics that no competitor has yet achieved: it is cement-free, has low pollutant emissions, and is self-healing. Its emissions throughout its life cycle can be up to 80% lower than those of traditional concrete.

 

“We have been working on this project for about a year, and it is great to promote this innovation specifically with Tapojärvi, since the company operates both in the mining industry and in the circular economy. Europe needs mines, but these are often undervalued due to their environmental impact. By using mining waste in products such as concrete, we are creating a better world, with a more sustainable mining industry,” says Fabiola Dodaj.

 

NOVA FCT and DCM thus reinforce, once again, their role as a breeding ground for entrepreneurial talent and solutions with real impact, contributing to the strengthening of the innovation ecosystem in Portugal and Europe.