An Interview on the Interpretation of NEXCEL 2022 Program Guideline
Time: 2022/04/12 Publisher： oiginal Views：
NEXCEL has recently released its 2022 Program Guideline to call for proposals. The Program Guideline covers areas including fibers, rebars and fiber composites (FRPs), admixtures & construction chemicals, insulation & composite cladding, special mortars/concrete, etc. The deadline for submission is May 5, 2022.
China Building Materials Magazine had an interview with Mr. Ma Zhenzhu, Chairman of CBMA, and Steering Committee Member of NEXCEL, to get his insights into the 2022 Program Guideline.
China Building Materials Magazine had an interview with Mr. Ma Zhenzhu, Chairman of CBMA, and Steering Committee Member of NEXCEL, to get his insights into the 2022 Program Guideline.
Q: What’s the background of establishing NEXCEL？
A: NEXCEL was jointly established by Saudi Aramco and CBMA in January 2022. Being Saudi Aramco’s first nonmetallic innovation center in Asia after UK and the USA, NEXCEL is a critical move towards CNBM’s vision of “We are building a promising future with materials”.
Aramco believes the growth, development and application of nonmetallic materials has the potential to be transformational across five key industries including oil and gas, automotive, building and construction, packaging and renewables. Having identified the opportunity to expand into nonmetallics, Aramco collaborated with CBMA to establish the NEXCEL for influencing research and development, as well as innovating new technologies and products.
Q: How will CBMA play its role during the operation period of NEXCEL?
A: With 72 years history of technology accumulation, CBMA has evolved into China’s largest and most comprehensive research and development institution of science and technology in the nonmetallic material sector. CBMA has now over 5,000 scientists and engineers, and completed more than 3,500 scientific research projects at national and industrial level. Furthermore, it also owns seven technical committees for national standardization and two listed companies, and set up twelve industry associations and societies as well as a number of international cooperation platforms, enjoying a high reputation in the field of building materials research internationally. CBMA will give full play to its industry-leading advantages to facilitate the accomplishment of four core functions of NEXCEL, including technology acceleration, standards and specifications, development and thought leadership as well as advocacy and training.
Q: What are the strategic positioning and objectives of NEXCEL? What are NEXCEL's major focused areas?
A: The strategic positioning of NEXCEL is responding to the world's most pressing challenges of energy and climate and materials through actively deploying energy transformation and material upgrades in the post-petroleum era and promoting the application of nonmetallic materials in the building and construction field.
NEXCEL’s objectives focus on developing and advocating nonmetallic products, establishing and transforming nonmetallic material standards and regulations, fostering effective nonmetallic material awareness and training for the building and construction community, with the purpose of expanding and accelerating nonmetallic technology deployment in the building and construction sector.
According to its vision and objectives, NEXCEL is committed to carrying out scientific and technological innovation tasks in seven focused areas, including waterproofing & repair materials, insulation & composite cladding, special mortars/concrete, flooring and pavement for road & bridges, fibers, rebars and fiber composites(FRPs), admixtures & construction chemicals as well as paintings & others.
Q: Why does NEXCEL set up this Program Fund?
A: Nonmetallic materials have broad prospects of growth in the building and construction sector. NEXCEL is committed to providing solutions through research and innovation and to replacing metal by nonmetallic materials in terms of advantages in performance, cost, construction efficiency and less maintenance in the full life cycle. That's why NEXCEL sets up the Program Fund to support the research and innovation of nonmetallic materials for building and construction and for low-carbon and green infrastructure in the future.
Q: How was the 2022 Program Guideline formulated?
A: The guiding principles for the Program Guideline emphasize "Four Basis Points" and "Three Orientations". The "Four Basis Points" are technological innovation, petroleum-based materials, sustainability and lower carbon footprint. The "Three Orientations" are market-oriented, problem-oriented and industrial application oriented, focusing on the engineering application and industrialization prospects of nonmetallic materials.
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) is a core body of NEXCEL. The TAC is composed of renowned professors from top Chinese universities and research institutions in the field of nonmetallic materials and experts from Saudi Aramco to provide unbiased insights and advice. TAC recommended a total of 78 projects for the seven focused areas. NEXCEL established a project pool based on those projects and will keep update every year. 2022 Program Guideline is selected from the project pool.
Q: Is there any connection between NEXCEL funded projects and “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals？
A: The vision of NEXCEL is to increase sustainability and reduce carbon footprints by expanding and accelerating the use of nonmetallic materials in the building and construction sector, which coincides with China's "Dual carbon" strategy, and also meets Saudi Aramco's goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Q: What’s the application procedure of NEXCEL funded projects?
A: The 2022 Program Guideline has a detailed introduction to the application procedures and requirements. There is "no threshold" for the application and all projects are open to the public with only the best application to be selected.
Q: How does the project review mechanism work?
A: All projects will be jointly reviewed by Chinese and Aramco experts, and the best applicant will be selected according to review results. TDA projects will be reviewed in the form of oral defense, whereas Small Fund projects will be reviewed by letter. The review process is fair and objective so that the best applicant can stand out to get the project and produce an outstanding project outcome.
Q: How is the ownership of intellectual property rights defined in the process of project implementation?
A: Any papers, books and software copyrights produced during the implementation of projects funded by NEXCEL are jointly owned by NEXCEL and the inventor, and are marked with NEXCEL’s title and project number. Standards and patents are owned and signed by the inventor, CBMA and Saudi Aramco (ABS and/or its affiliates).
Q: Last question, how NEXCEL 's Program Fund will foster the cultivation of high-level talents?
A: High-level talents are the foundation of innovation and can influence or even change the world. Ph.D students are in the golden stage of their life with sufficient passion, time, energy and creativity for scientific research. Their studies in this period may have an impact on the rest of their life.
NEXCEL plans to sponsor three Ph.D students' research projects every year. The support areas are consistent with NEXCEL's vision. It is hoped that the research content of the Ph.D students will be more in-depth and systematic, and the results will be more prominent. Any Ph.D student who is committed to carrying out research on related subject can apply for it and contribute to the achievement of NEXCEL's goals.