In a major step towards fostering innovation in sustainable infrastructure, the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) launched a national-level hackathon titled “CemHack for Green Infra” on May 20, 2025. The initiative was unveiled by Shri Sanjiv, Joint Secretary at the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry, during a special event at NCB’s headquarters in Ballabgarh.
This launch also marked the first anniversary of the NCB Incubation Centre, a platform dedicated to nurturing research, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the cement and construction sectors. In his address, Shri Sanjiv congratulated the NCB team for their efforts and expressed optimism about the hackathon’s potential to inspire cutting-edge green technology solutions. He extended a warm invitation to India’s premier institutions—including IITs, NITs, and regional technical universities—to take part in this challenge and become catalysts of sustainable change.
Organised by the NCB Incubation Centre, the hackathon offers a much-needed opportunity for startups, professionals, students, and academics to bring forward real-world solutions in key areas such as green cement, green processes, green concrete, carbon capture and storage, and net-zero logistics. It is structured into two tracks—one for startups and professionals, and the other for students and academia—ensuring broad-based participation from various corners of the innovation ecosystem.
Importantly, the hackathon is free to enter and offers not just cash rewards of up to ₹1 lakh but also access to valuable incubation and mentoring opportunities at NCB-IC. Registrations are open until July 20, 2025, and interested participants can apply via the official portal.
The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the urgent need for sustainable practices in the cement and construction sectors—industries that play a vital role in nation-building but also face pressing environmental challenges. Dr. L P Singh, Director General of NCB, underscored the hackathon’s role in advancing eco-friendly technologies and highlighted some recent milestones, including a Department of Science and Technology (DST)-funded carbon capture project in collaboration with IIT Roorkee and JK Cement. He also announced the upcoming launch of a Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) at NCB, signalling a bold step forward in green innovation.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from students, researchers, industry experts, and NCB scientists, reflecting a shared commitment to creating a greener, smarter, and more sustainable infrastructure future for India. In an era where the stakes of climate change are high, initiatives like “CemHack for Green Infra” are a hopeful reminder that technology, collaboration, and a shared vision can pave the way for meaningful change.