The University of Cantabria awards LADICIM its proposal for sustainable concrete for the nuclear industry
The GreenCosmos project, recognized in the UC Solutions 2025 call, proposes an innovative solution for the energy infrastructure of the future, combining security and a circular economy
In a global landscape increasingly focused on safe and sustainable energy, the development of advanced materials for the next-generation nuclear industry is paramount. The Laboratory of the Division of Materials Science and Engineering (LADICIM) at the University of Cantabria (UC) has been recognized for its contributions in this field, receiving an award in the UC Solutions 2025 call. This initiative, promoted by the Vice-Rectorate for Research, Transfer and Doctorate Studies, is part of the Chair of Security, Planning and Industrial Competitiveness program, funded by the Ministry of Industry, Employment, Innovation and Trade of the Government of Cantabria.
LADICIM’s award-winning proposal, GreenCosmos, addresses a critical technological challenge: developing high-performance concrete for small modular reactors (SMRs) and nuclear fusion reactors. The project proposes a new generation of concretes designed to endure the extreme conditions of future nuclear infrastructures, including high temperatures and radiation levels.
A key innovation of GreenCosmos lies in its sustainable approach. The project plans to utilize industrial waste in concrete production, achieving a dual objective: significantly reducing CO2 emissions and implementing circular economy principles by reusing materials in an advanced technological application.
The research team behind GreenCosmos is led by Diego Ferreño, with contributions from Isidro Carrascal, Jose A. Casado, Carlos Thomas, José A. Sáinz-Aja, Soraya Diego, and Pablo Tamayo.
UC Solutions Awards: Fostering Knowledge Transfer
The UC Solutions Awards aim to facilitate knowledge transfer from UC research groups to the regional productive sector. The call outlined seven strategic technological challenges, identified in collaboration with Cantabria’s industrial clusters, seeking innovative solutions with high socioeconomic impact. GreenCosmos was selected for Challenge 2: “Technologies to advance the path towards fusion and small module reactors.”
LADICIM brings extensive experience in materials for energy and civil engineering, and this recognition further solidifies its established research in the field. The GreenCosmos project is closely linked to other significant LADICIM initiatives, such as ENTENTE, focused on fusion reactor technologies, and ISOBARA, dedicated to concrete-based solutions for floating wind energy. This collaborative approach underscores the laboratory’s expertise in knowledge transfer across vital sectors.
Currently, LADICIM is conducting preliminary feasibility studies for these new concrete formulations. This award not only acknowledges the excellence of the GreenCosmos proposal but also positions LADICIM and the University of Cantabria as leaders in developing materials for the future of nuclear energy—a crucial sector for the global energy transition.
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