Neocrete is a New Zealand-based concrete technology company developing an activator that enables cement free concrete while preserving strength, durability, and workability. Founded by Zarina Bazoeva and Matt Kennedy-Good, the company began its research journey in Auckland and moved from early laboratory experiments into structured trials with industry partners as interest in lower-emission construction materials grew. The founders built the company around a scientific premise that concrete does not need to depend on conventional cement chemistry to perform at a high level, and they organized their research around that hypothesis.

Concrete remains the most widely used building material on the planet, and traditional production methods rely on Portland cement as the binding agent. Cement manufacturing generates substantial carbon emissions because it requires high-temperature kilns and chemical reactions that release carbon dioxide. As global construction demand continues across housing, transportation, and energy infrastructure, the material’s carbon footprint has drawn scrutiny from governments, developers, and investors who seek lower-emission options without reducing structural integrity.

Neocrete entered this environment with a proprietary activator designed to work with supplementary cementitious materials. Instead of depending primarily on clinker, the company’s technology stimulates reactions among materials such as fly ash, slag, and other pozzolanic inputs. By activating these components, the additive supports hydration and binding processes that form a dense concrete matrix. The result allows producers to reduce the proportion of conventional cement in a mix while maintaining performance targets set by engineers and regulators.

Scientific Foundation and Early Development

The company’s early years focused on laboratory validation and performance testing. Researchers evaluated compressive strength, durability, and long-term stability under controlled conditions, comparing mixes containing the activator with standard formulations. Data from these trials guided refinements to dosage levels and mix compatibility, which allowed the technology to integrate into existing batching systems without requiring major changes to equipment.

Neocrete designed the activator to operate at low inclusion rates, typically a small percentage of the total cementitious content. That design decision enables concrete producers to incorporate the product during standard batching procedures, which helps maintain operational efficiency while introducing a lower-emission chemistry. The company’s development process emphasized repeatable performance across varied raw materials, since concrete producers often source aggregates and supplementary materials from different regions.

Field trials followed laboratory studies. Demonstration pours provided real-world data under construction conditions, and performance monitoring assessed curing time, strength gain, and durability metrics. These projects offered practical insight into how the material behaves in commercial settings, and feedback from industry participants shaped further product optimization. The company used that information to refine formulations and prepare for broader deployment.

Industry Partnerships and Market Expansion

As validation progressed, Neocrete sought partnerships with established players in the construction materials sector. Collaboration with concrete producers allows the activator to be integrated directly into existing supply chains, since large-scale adoption depends on compatibility with batching plants and quality control systems. By working with manufacturers rather than bypassing them, the company positioned its technology as an additive solution rather than a replacement production model.

The company expanded its presence beyond New Zealand, engaging with stakeholders in Europe and other regions where building regulations and carbon reduction policies encourage innovation in materials science. These discussions included pilot projects and evaluation programs intended to test scalability. Participation in accelerator initiatives also connected Neocrete with global building materials companies that have extensive distribution networks and technical expertise. Such relationships provide pathways for broader market validation and industrial testing across diverse climates and regulatory environments.

Investment has supported this expansion. Capital raised in recent years has funded research, staffing, intellectual property protection, and manufacturing capabilities. With production facilities established to meet demand, the company has prepared its activator for shipment to project sites and partner facilities. This infrastructure allows Neocrete to transition from experimental stages into commercial deployment while maintaining quality assurance standards.

Performance, Durability, and Technical Considerations

Concrete performance depends on strength development, resistance to water penetration, and long-term durability under environmental stress. Neocrete’s technology targets these characteristics through chemical activation that promotes dense microstructure formation. By facilitating additional binding reactions, the activator supports reduced porosity, which can help limit ingress of moisture and chemicals that degrade reinforcement over time.

Engineers evaluate new materials against standardized testing frameworks, and Neocrete has subjected its product to independent assessments to verify compliance with industry benchmarks. These evaluations include compressive strength tests and durability measurements under controlled conditions. Results inform certification pathways and regulatory approvals that allow concrete containing the activator to meet building codes.

The company’s long-term vision includes enabling concrete mixes that contain minimal or no traditional cement, depending on the availability of alternative binders in a given region. Research and development continue to refine formulations so that performance remains consistent across applications such as foundations, structural elements, and infrastructure projects. Adoption in each sector requires collaboration with designers, contractors, and material suppliers who specify concrete characteristics for specific use cases.

Broader Significance for Construction Materials

Concrete production represents a significant share of global industrial emissions, and changes in binder chemistry offer one pathway for reduction. Innovations that lower clinker content can reduce carbon intensity without requiring a complete overhaul of construction practices. Technologies that integrate into existing systems may encourage adoption because they allow gradual transition rather than abrupt change.

Neocrete’s model focuses on compatibility with established supply chains. By providing an additive that works within conventional batching processes, the company avoids the need for new manufacturing infrastructure. This structure supports incremental deployment across projects and regions while maintaining familiarity for producers and contractors.

As construction demand grows worldwide, material efficiency and emissions reduction remain priorities for developers and policymakers. Solutions that maintain structural standards while lowering environmental costs attract attention from public and private sectors. Neocrete’s research and partnerships reflect an effort to contribute to that broader movement through chemistry rather than structural redesign.

The company continues to refine its activator, expand testing programs, and collaborate with global partners. Each stage of development adds data that informs performance and scalability. With laboratory foundations established and pilot projects underway, Neocrete advances its work toward broader commercialization in construction markets that seek lower-emission materials.

Zarina Bazoeva, Co-Founder & CEO, Neocrete