SmartCrete CRC
SmartCrete CRC is an Australian not-for-profit Cooperative Research Centre that invests $21M of Commonwealth funding, matched by industry, into industry-led, university-delivered R&D across three research streams to decarbonise Australia's concrete ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersPort Macquarie, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What SmartCrete CRC does
SmartCrete CRC is an independent, not-for-profit Cooperative Research Centre established in 2020 under Australia's Commonwealth CRC Program to decarbonise the Australian concrete ecosystem. Headquartered at Level 1, 3 Innovation Road, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park NSW, the organisation was awarded $21 million in Commonwealth funding over seven years (concluding June 2027) which is matched dollar-for-dollar by industry partner contributions. Its purpose is to invest in industry-led, university-delivered R&D projects that address the systemic barriers to net-zero concrete—concrete accounts for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and Australia produces roughly 29 million cubic metres of premixed concrete annually.
The portfolio is organised into three research streams—Sustainable Concrete (low-carbon mixes, calcined clay, geopolymer, recycled aggregate, carbon-absorbing concrete), Engineered Solutions (3D printing, certification, standards), and Asset Management (sensors, AI-based defect detection, digital twins, predictive modelling)—with more than 30 active projects delivered through 11 Australian universities and 50+ industry and research partners including Boral, Holcim Australia, Sydney Water, Main Roads WA, CCAA, CIF, Calix, and Zeolite Australia. Knowledge dissemination runs through three monthly Communities of Practice, an industry-embedded PhD program (20+ HDR students), Future Concrete Leaders seminars at engineering firms, the Clinker Chat video series, and publications including the Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector report (2021).
The business model is a four-tier partnership structure (Core $250k+, Supporting $75k+, Affiliate $15k+, Associate below $15k or in-kind) with all cash contributions subject to a 30% Central Service Fee for administration and management. Revenue is therefore grant-and-membership-driven rather than product-driven, with all funds reinvested into research collaborations. In February 2026 SmartCrete lodged a Pre-Budget Submission proposing a successor Concrete Sustainability Alliance at $27 million per year over four years, representing the principal forward-looking growth vector beyond the current CRC funding window.
SmartCrete CRC firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SmartCrete CRC
- Legal name
- SmartCrete CRC Ltd
- Website
- https://smartcretecrc.com.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SmartCrete CRC is an Australian not-for-profit Cooperative Research Centre that invests $21M of Commonwealth funding, matched by industry, into industry-led, university-delivered R&D across three research streams to decarbonise Australia's concrete ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SmartCrete CRC is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Port Macquarie
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
SmartCrete CRC business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Commonwealth Government Funding: SmartCrete CRC has been granted $21 million of Commonwealth funding over 7 years to invest in industry-led research projects. This is matched by industry contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
- Industry Partner Contributions: Partner contributions across four tiers: Core partners ($250k+ for large corporations), Supporting ($75k+), Affiliate ($15k+), and Associate (below $15k or in-kind). All contributions attract a 30% Central Service Fee for administration, management, auditing, reporting and commercialisation.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Core Partners - Large corporations ($250k+), Federal Government Departments, Large Semi Government Departments, Domestic research providers |
| Subscription | Annual | Supporting Partners - Large corporations ($75k+), State Government departments, Large NFP organisations, International research providers |
| Subscription | Annual | Affiliate Partners - Large corporations ($15k+), State Government departments, Large NFP organisations |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Partners - Below $15k or In-kind only |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
SmartCrete CRC product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SmartCrete CRC operates as a Cooperative Research Centre that invests matched Commonwealth and industry funding into industry-led, university-delivered R&D projects to decarbonise and improve the sustainability of Australia's concrete ecosystem. It runs three research streams (Sustainable Concrete, Engineered Solutions, and Asset Management) covering low-carbon concrete mixes, durability innovations, sensor and AI-based asset monitoring, plus HDR student education and Communities of Practice.
Product overview
SmartCrete CRC is an independent, for-impact Cooperative Research Centre that empowers innovation collaborations to transition concrete for a sustainable Australia. The organisation operates three interlinked research programs: Sustainable Concrete (developing new sustainable mixes, circular economy solutions, and decarbonisation technologies), Engineered Solutions (engineering solutions for durability, longevity, and sustainability of concrete infrastructure), and Asset Management (developing sensors, data analytics, and AI-powered predictive modelling for infrastructure monitoring). The portfolio includes over 30 research projects spanning innovations like AI-powered defect detection, digital twins, 3D concrete printing, and low-carbon concrete materials. Education initiatives include HDR student support and capability building programs, supported by three Communities of Practice. The organisation invests $21 million of Commonwealth funding into industry-led, university-delivered R&D projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sustainable Concrete Research Program Research program focused on designing and developing new sustainable concrete mixes and products that meet industry standards. Covers circular economy integration, supply chain optimisation, decarbonisation, low-carbon alternative products and natural carbonisation processes to capture and remove CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Engineered Solutions Research Program Research program engineering new solutions that improve the durability, longevity and sustainability of concrete buildings and infrastructure. Investigates material properties, construction and maintenance processes (including 3D concrete printing), and develops certification and standards for sustainable concrete.
- Asset Management Research Program Research program developing new technologies and procedures to enhance the use and longevity of concrete assets, including fit-for-purpose sensors, sensor integration with data analytics, and AI/machine learning for predictive modelling of concrete deterioration.
- Industry Challenge Program Quarterly industry challenges that tackle particular industry problems on the route to net zero. Brings together stakeholders along the concrete value chain to define collective challenges for the research community to solve.
- Communities of Practice Three monthly collaborative networks aligned with the research themes (Sustainable Concrete, Engineered Solutions, Asset Management) that connect researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to share knowledge and drive innovation in concrete sustainability, engineered solutions and asset management.
- Education and Workforce Development Program Industry-led learning and workforce development initiative that combines HDR student support equipping emerging researchers with industry-ready skills, and a capability building program offering industry training, webinars and collaboration with the Concrete Institute of Australia.
- Decision Support Tools for Life Cycle Management of Water Infrastructure Assets Research project developing decision support tools for life cycle management of water infrastructure assets, enabling better decision-making across the asset lifecycle for water utilities and asset owners.
- Digital Twin of Reinforced Concrete Infrastructure for Intelligent Asset Management Research project developing digital twin technology for reinforced concrete infrastructure to enable intelligent asset management through real-time monitoring and simulation, supporting infrastructure owners and operators.
- Industrial IoT System for Automated AI Defect Detection of Concrete Sleepers Research project developing an industrial IoT system using artificial intelligence to automatically detect defects in concrete railway sleepers during industrial manufacturing and monitoring, for rail industry manufacturers and operators.
- Crack Detection in Concrete Pipes Using Deep Learning Assisted Computer Vision Research project developing a computer vision system employing deep learning algorithms to automatically detect and classify cracks in concrete pipes, supporting infrastructure assessment for utilities and asset owners.
- Cost-effective Deployable Photonic Sensor System Research project developing cost-effective photonic sensor technology for deployment in concrete infrastructure monitoring applications, for asset owners and monitoring service providers.
- Robotic-Based Sewer Pipe Condition Assessment Research project developing a robotic system for automated sewer pipe condition assessment, reducing manual inspection requirements and improving safety, for water utilities and infrastructure inspectors.
- Digitalised Hammer for Gravity Sewer Condition Assessments Research project developing a smart sensor-equipped hammer tool for objective, quantitative assessment of concrete sewer pipe conditions, replacing subjective manual tapping methods, for water utilities such as Sydney Water.
- Sustainable Concrete for Wastewater Infrastructure Research project developing technical recommendations for water utilities such as Sydney Water to shift from prescriptive to performance-based concrete specifications, including a Low Carbon Concrete Mix Selection Tool. Project value $988,971.
- Turning Waste Mineral into Carbon Absorbing Concrete Research project developing zeolite-based geopolymer concrete products from waste mineral (zeolite) that can absorb carbon while maintaining mechanical strength after carbonation, for concrete manufacturers and suppliers. Project value $946,284.
- Manufacturing Large Concrete Blocks from Red Mud for Infrastructure Applications Research project converting toxic red mud waste from aluminium manufacturing into large concrete blocks for retaining walls, coastal barriers, and highway noise barriers, for infrastructure applications. Project value $260,000.
- Applications of Calcined Clay in Lower Carbon Concrete Research project developing low-carbon concrete using calcined clay as supplementary cementitious material, offering 30-40% CO2 reduction while maintaining comparable performance to traditional concrete, led by Boral with UTS and Calix. Project value $1,671,719.
- 3D Concrete Printed Residential Building for Low-Cost Housing Research project investigating 3D concrete printing for residential building applications to enable low-cost housing construction with innovative materials, for housing developers and concrete construction firms.
- Self-temperature Controlling Concrete Solar Roof Tiles and Building Blocks Using Waste Materials Research project developing innovative concrete building materials incorporating solar technology and waste materials to enable self-temperature controlling properties and improved building energy ratings, for building product manufacturers and developers.
- Development of Eco-friendly Concrete Using Industrial By-Products Research project developing sustainable concrete products using industrial waste materials including furnace bottom ash, with technical guidelines for industry application, led by the University of Newcastle with multiple industry partners. Project value $972,303.
- Investigating the Upper Limit of the Slump Test to Specify the Consistency of Fresh Concrete Research project determining clear upper limits for slump values to help builders and road authorities specify the right concrete mixes, in partnership with Main Roads WA and Curtin University. Project value $246,126.
- Recycled Waste in Concrete for Municipal Applications Research project led by the University of Queensland developing concrete mixes using plastic, glass, and rubber waste for municipal council applications, including field testing on Mornington Peninsula footpaths. Project value $823,805.
- Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector Report Comprehensive report outlining 8 pathways for the Australian cement and concrete sector to reach net zero by 2050. Commissioned by CIF, CCAA and SmartCrete CRC and delivered by VDZ, it provides industry, government and research stakeholders with an evidence-based decarbonisation roadmap.
- Clinker Chat Video Series Video interview series featuring innovation leaders from the concrete industry, hosted by SmartCrete CRC CEO Clare Tubolets, covering topics such as MCi Carbon, Oasis Building Group, Paintback, Cement Australia, The Perfect Sand, and Geopolymer Concrete.
- Decarbonisation Webinar Series Recorded webinar series on concrete decarbonisation topics including Defining Embodied Carbon, Innovation Investment, Fast-tracking Decarbonisation, Filling the Gap, Sustainability-led Procurement, and Supply Chain Complexity, for industry professionals and researchers.
Quantifiable outcome
- Australian cement and concrete industry has reduced CO2 emissions by 25% since 2000
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SmartCrete CRC
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
SmartCrete CRC technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability7 records
Feature3 records
SmartCrete CRC partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
22 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Sydney WatercoreSydney Water is collaborating on multiple SmartCrete CRC projects including the Digitalised Hammer for Gravity Sewer Condition Assessments project ($540,652) and the Sustainable Concrete for Wastewater Infrastructure project ($988,971). The partnership focuses on developing sensor-based inspection tools and performance-based concrete specifications for water infrastructure durability.
- Boral LimitedcoreBoral leads the Applications of Calcined Clay in Lower Carbon Concrete project ($1,671,719) in collaboration with UTS and Calix. Boral has completed product development of Australia's first calcined clay concrete. SmartCrete also partners with Boral through the UTS-Boral Centre for Sustainable Building.
- Holcim AustraliacoreHolcim (Australia) Pty Ltd is a partner in the Returned Concrete Aggregate as Virgin Aggregate Replacement project ($567,417), working with Curtin University and Main Roads WA to develop returned concrete into viable alternative coarse aggregate for reducing carbon footprint.
- Cement Industry Federation (CIF)coreCIF commissioned the Decarbonisation Pathways for the Australian Cement and Concrete Sector report ($210,000) along with CCAA and SmartCrete CRC, working with VDZ to identify eight pathways for the industry to reach net zero by 2050.
- Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA)coreCCAA co-commissioned the Decarbonisation Pathways report and participates in the Returned Concrete Aggregate project, representing Australian cement and concrete manufacturers in the decarbonisation research agenda.
- RACE 2030 CRCcoreRACE 2030 CRC partnered on the Decarbonisation Pathways report, contributing to the cross-CRC collaboration on decarbonisation research mapping and quantification.
- Zeolite AustraliacoreZeolite Australia partners with Western Sydney University on the Turning Waste Mineral into Carbon Absorbing Concrete project ($946,284), developing zeolite-based geopolymers for concrete that retain mechanical strength after carbonation.
- BSMART Holdings Pty LtdcoreBSMART Holdings partners with Adelaide University on the Manufacturing Large Concrete Blocks from Red Mud project ($260,000), developing concrete blocks from toxic waste produced by aluminium manufacturing for applications like retaining walls and coastal barriers.
- Main Roads WAcoreMain Roads WA partners with Curtin University on the Investigating the Upper Limit of the Slump Test project ($246,126) to determine clear upper limits for slump values and help builders specify the right concrete mixes.
- Calix LimitedcoreCalix partners with Boral and UTS on calcined clay concrete development, providing technology expertise for producing low-carbon concrete alternatives.
- University of QueenslandcoreLed the Recycled Waste in Concrete for Municipal Applications project ($823,805) developing concrete mixes using plastic, glass, and rubber waste for municipal council applications, including field testing on Mornington Peninsula footpaths.
- Victorian Department of Treasury and FinancecoreFormerly Office of Projects Victoria, partnered on the Recycled Waste in Concrete project, representing government interest in sustainable infrastructure procurement.
- Sustainability VictoriacorePartner on Recycled Waste in Concrete project, contributing to the Victorian government's sustainability agenda for waste reduction and circular economy.
- Curtin UniversitycoreLeads the Returned Concrete Aggregate project and partners on the Slump Test project, conducting materials science research on sustainable concrete applications.
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)coreUTS leads the Calcined Clay project ($1,671,719) and hosts the UTS-Boral Centre for Sustainable Building, with Professor Vute Sirivivatnanon serving as Research Director of SmartCrete CRC.
- University of NewcastlecoreLeads the Eco-friendly Concrete Using Industrial By-Products project ($972,303) with multiple industry partners including Delta Power, Daracrete, Molycop, RMIT, and Pacific Blue Metal.
- Western Sydney UniversitycorePartners with Zeolite Australia on the Turning Waste Mineral into Carbon Absorbing Concrete project, researching geopolymer concrete applications.
- Adelaide UniversitycorePartners with BSMART on red mud concrete block development, researching waste-to-infrastructure solutions for the aluminium industry.
- CCAAcoreCement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia participates in the returned concrete aggregate project, providing industry perspective on sustainable concrete practices.
- Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA)coreCIA collaborates on professional development and training, supporting the Concrete 2025 and Concrete 2023 conferences and supporting next-generation concrete technologists.
- Standards AustraliacoreSmartCrete engages with Standards Australia on prefabrication, modular construction, digital engineering, and decarbonisation standards. Henrietta Tan joined SmartCrete after 7 years at Standards Australia.
- Concrete Sustainability AlliancecoreSmartCrete has proposed establishing the Concrete Sustainability Alliance as a world-first, systems-based innovation program to accelerate sector-wide decarbonisation. The Alliance would receive $27 million per year over four years if approved by the Federal Government.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SmartCrete CRC competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Food Agility CRC: Australian CRC that pioneered the same industry-led, multi-university model SmartCrete uses. Multiple SmartCrete executives (CEO Clare Tubolets, Portfolio Director Hugh Ong) previously held senior roles at Food Agility, making it a near-twin in operating structure, though focused on agrifood rather than construction materials.
- Cement Industry Federation (CIF): Australian cement industry peak body and SmartCrete Core partner. Co-commissioned the 2021 Decarbonisation Pathways report and shares SmartCrete's net-zero 2050 mandate, operating as a policy and research convening body for cement producers in Australia.
- Innovative Manufacturing CRC: Australian CRC structured around industry-matched funding, university research collaborations, and project portfolio management. SmartCrete's Portfolio Manager previously held the same role at IMCRC, indicating direct comparability in operating model and scale.
- Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA): Australian professional body for concrete technologists and a SmartCrete Core partner. Collaborates on professional development, conferences (Concrete 2025), and capability building — overlapping significantly with SmartCrete's education and Communities of Practice agenda.
- Blue Economy CRC: Australian CRC that, like SmartCrete, operates under the Commonwealth CRC Program with industry-matched funding, multi-university research partnerships, and a 7-year horizon. Dr Gunilla Burrowes sits on both SmartCrete's board and Blue Economy CRC's governance, evidencing overlap in operating model and ecosystem.
- RACE 2030 CRC: Australian Cooperative Research Centre focused on decarbonisation research mapping and cross-CRC collaboration. SmartCrete partnered with RACE 2030 on the Decarbonisation Pathways report, and both share the Commonwealth CRC funding model, multi-stakeholder research portfolio, and 7-year term structure.
- Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA): Australian peak industry body for the cement, concrete and aggregates sector and a Core partner of SmartCrete (co-commissioned the Decarbonisation Pathways report). Overlapping membership and shared decarbonisation agenda make it the closest industry-side counterpart.
Emerging players
- Nanocem: European consortium of academia and industry conducting fundamental cement and concrete research. Shares SmartCrete's industry-academia collaborative research model and sustainability agenda, but operates as a consortium rather than a federally funded CRC.
Broad incumbents
- Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA): International industry body advancing decarbonisation, innovation and standards across the global cement and concrete sector. Highly comparable to SmartCrete in mission (net-zero concrete by 2050) but operates globally with a broader advocacy and policy remit.
- MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub: University-based research consortium pursuing fundamental and applied research on concrete sustainability, with multi-stakeholder industry sponsorship. Compares to SmartCrete's research program model but is US-based, larger in scale, and focused on pavement and building innovation.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SmartCrete CRC social profiles
Digital presenceSmartCrete CRC financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SmartCrete CRC leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
SmartCrete CRC funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SmartCrete CRC M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SmartCrete CRC
What does SmartCrete CRC do?
SmartCrete CRC operates as a Cooperative Research Centre that invests matched Commonwealth and industry funding into industry-led, university-delivered R&D projects to decarbonise and improve the sustainability of Australia's concrete ecosystem. It runs three research streams (Sustainable Concrete, Engineered Solutions, and Asset Management) covering low-carbon concrete mixes, durability innovations, sensor and AI-based asset monitoring, plus HDR student education and Communities of Practice.
Is SmartCrete CRC a public or private company?
SmartCrete CRC is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was SmartCrete CRC founded?
SmartCrete CRC was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SmartCrete CRC based?
SmartCrete CRC is headquartered in Port Macquarie, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does SmartCrete CRC make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Commonwealth Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are industry Partner Contributions.
Who are SmartCrete CRC's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Food Agility CRC, Cement Industry Federation (CIF), Innovative Manufacturing CRC, Concrete Institute of Australia (CIA), Blue Economy CRC, RACE 2030 CRC and Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia (CCAA). Nanocem is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) and MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub.
Does SmartCrete CRC have an API?
No public API is recorded for SmartCrete CRC.