Concrete is the literal foundation of our modern world, but as we look toward a new era of economic expansion and infrastructure renewal, the industry is reaching a pivotal crossroads. To maintain a competitive edge and ensure long-term stability, we don’t just need more material—we need smarter, more resilient materials.
At the Cementitious Materials International Congress Americas 2026 we dive into the dual engines driving this transformation: high-level federal strategy and ground-level industrial innovation. Featured insights:
Transforming U.S. Infrastructure: Driving Advanced Cement and Concrete Adoption through a Center of Excellence by Isabelle Rojas, PMP, Technology Advisor Building and Infrastructure Materials, Contractor of the Department of Energy, Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation
Cement and concrete materials continue to play a critical role in modern infrastructure. Their production, however, requires substantial energy resources, making innovation a key priority for the sector’s stability and growth. The United States anticipates continued high and growing production volumes of these materials to support infrastructure renewal and economic expansion. Ensuring the sector’s vitality in evolving global markets necessitates forward-thinking improvements within these industries.
The emergence of next-generation cement and concrete materials presents a significant opportunity to enhance the sector’s resilience and competitive standing. To accelerate the development and adoption of these advanced technologies, a dedicated center will be established, engaging stakeholder groups through a nationwide, rapid user-access model. Through rigorous, reliable testing, the center aims to build confidence in novel technical solutions, paving the way for their widespread implementation.
About the Speaker
Isabelle Rojas is a certified Project Management Professional and Program Supervisor at Energetics. She has 20 years of experience in the building industry and is an expert in alternative cement and concrete with deep proficiency in product development from bench scale to industrial pilot scale.
At Energetics, Isabelle exercises her cement and concrete expertise, primarily in support of the U.S. Department of Energy. Technology Advisor for infrastructure and building materials with the Industrial Technologies Office, she supports its effort to enhance U.S. competitiveness and supply chain security for that sector.
Previously, Isabelle was a Project Manager for the private sector. She directed projects in Europe and in North America and delivered next generation solutions for ready-mix and precast concrete applications. She holds two patents both for concrete applications: one for a fast hydraulic binder containing calcium salt, and another for the use of cellulose ether for reducing plastic shrinkage/cracking.
CalPortland’s Cement Innovation: From Blended Cements to COâ‚‚ Mineralization by Dr. Luis Baquerizo, the Director of the Central Research Laboratory at CalPortland
CalPortland continues to advance its blended cement portfolio through innovations that enhance performance while reducing clinker content. Building on their experience with Type IL, CalPortland developed ADVANCEMENT HPT® (Type IT) to meet market expectations for early and late compressive strength as well as long‑term durability. Product formulation was guided by standard testing and supported by broader material characterization to assess SCM reactivity and ensure reliable performance in aggressive environments.
Complementing blended cement development, CalPortland is advancing CO₂ mineralization pathways that bind process CO₂ into recycled cementitious fines from demolished concrete. Luis will summarize  their fundamental reactivity studies and outline plans to pilot the technology at plant scale.
Together, these initiatives highlight CalPortland’s commitment to practical, scalable decarbonization of the cement industry.
About the speaker
Dr. Luis Baquerizo is the Director of the Central Research Laboratory at CalPortland, based in Southern California, where he oversees efforts focused on decarbonization and the development of high value‑added products and innovative solutions.
He previously worked in Massachusetts at Sublime Systems as Head of Product R&D, contributing to the advancement of emerging low‑carbon cement technologies. Before that, Dr. Baquerizo served as Head of R&D at Cementos Pacasmayo in Peru, where he led the development of new constructive solutions for the concrete and dry‑mortar businesses. Earlier in his career, he spent nearly a decade with Holcim and Lafarge in Switzerland and France, focusing on blended cement development, SCM assessment, performance optimization, and decarbonization, including the creation of high–value‑added specialty products.
Dr. Baquerizo holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Ecuador, a Master’s degree in Materials Science completed in Sweden and Spain, and a PhD in Materials Science from EPFL in Switzerland. He is also a recipient of the Le Chatelier Medal in recognition of his contributions to cement research and innovation.
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