GEOSUMAT Project Milestone Meeting: Advancing Sustainable Geopolymer Innovations in Cluj-Napoca, May 30-31, 2024

The GEOSUMAT meeting, organized by Dr. Gabriel Furtos and coordinated by Leif-Gunnar Hanssen, took place on May 30-31, 2024, at the "Raluca Ripan" Institute for Research in Chemistry in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. This meeting brought together a diverse group of participants from partner institutions, including UiT (The Arctic University of Norway), PK/WIMiF and PK/WIL (Cracow University of Technology), RT (ReforceTech), BBU (Babeș-Bolyai University), CTU (Czech Technical University), Gerosion, Gortech, and Chemstr. The participants engaged both online and in person, facilitating a comprehensive and inclusive discussion of the project’s progress and plans.

 The first day of the meeting, May 30, began with a series of insightful presentations. PhD Janis Baronins from UiT presented on the "Estimation of Local Waste Resources for Geopolymer Formulation in Norway: Insights from Work Packages 1 and 3." His presentation highlighted the potential of utilizing local waste materials in geopolymer formulations, aligning with the project’s sustainability goals. This was followed by a presentation by PhD Jan Přikryl from Gerosion on the "Optimization of Geopolymer Based Materials with Low CO2 Footprint in GEOSUMAT Project. Ph.D. Lukas Fiala and Ph.D. Jan Fort from CTU then discussed Geopolymer Design: Hidden Issues in the Use of Commercial Alkali Activators and Electrically Conductive Admixtures for New Material Functions. Dr.Hab.Ing. Tomasz Tracz from PK/WIL presented on the "Adhesion of Basalt, Polypropylene, and Steel Fibres to the Geopolymer Matrix."  PhD Gabriel Furtos from BBU then presented on the "Mechanical Properties of MiniBars™ Basalt Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Composites for Building Applications." 

The final day of the GEOSUMAT meeting, May 31, 2024, began with a presentation by Leif-Gunnar Hanssen, providing a "Geosumat Progress Update." Hanssen’s presentation reviewed the project’s achievements to date, highlighting key milestones and accomplishments. Each partner institution provided updates on their specific contributions and activities within the GEOSUMAT project, facilitating a comprehensive overview of the project’s status. The discussions then turned to planning, focusing on the next steps and strategies for advancing the project’s goals. PhD Sofija Kekez presented an innovative project application idea for the EIC Pathfinder Challenge titled "Towards Cement and Concrete as a Carbon Sink," which is one of the key deliverables of the GEOSUMAT project. 

In summary, the GEOSUMAT meeting on May 30-31, 2024, at the "Raluca Ripan" Institute for Research in Chemistry was a productive and enriching event. The meeting’s outcomes will play a crucial role in guiding the future direction of the GEOSUMAT project, ensuring its continued progress and success in developing sustainable geopolymer materials.