- The University awarded almost £6m of EPSRC funding to lead SmartChar, a five-year national programme
- Research will help develop a new type of concrete that can store carbon and monitor its own condition, in a bid to cut emissions from one of the world’s most polluting industries
- Biochar-infused concrete is designed to lock away carbon permanently while boosting strength and durability.
Aston University has secured £5.7 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to lead SmartChar, a five-year national programme to transform construction through carbon-storing, intelligent materials.
SmartChar will develop next-generation concrete that not only reduces emissions but actively stores carbon, positioning the UK at the forefront of climate-positive construction.
Concrete production exceeds 30 billion tonnes globally each year, with cement responsible for around 8% of CO₂ emissions. SmartChar tackles this challenge by integrating biochar, a material derived from waste biomass, into concrete, creating stronger, longer-lasting materials that permanently lock away carbon.
Unlike existing approaches that focus on reducing emissions during production, the project aims to turn concrete into a material that actively removes carbon from the atmosphere.
The programme advances fibre optic sensors to embed them within biochar-concrete, enabling structures such as bridges and buildings to monitor their own condition in real-time. Combined with machine learning and digital twin technologies, this will support predictive maintenance, extending lifespan, reducing costs, and improving safety.
Led by Aston University, the programme brings together partners including the University of Edinburgh and Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh alongside 26 organisations across industry and policy including Holcim, Kier, Amey, HS2, Make UK, the Scottish Government and the West Midland Combined Authority. The programme was co-designed by the partners to ensure rapid translation into real-world applications and standards.
A key outcome will be the Smart and Sustainable Construction Hub, a national platform providing testing facilities, an open-access materials database, and skills training aligned to net-zero.
The researchers believe that SmartChar will help cut emissions, reduce costs and create new market opportunities, while building the skills needed for a more sustainable construction sector.
Dr Abed Alaswad, associate dean for research and enterprise at Aston University and director of SmartChar, said:
“SmartChar represents a step-change in construction. We are transforming concrete from a high-emission material into a carbon-storing, intelligent system that can monitor its own performance and support predictive decision making.
“This investment enables us to bring together leading expertise to deliver solutions that are practical, scalable, and ready to support the UK’s net-zero ambitions.”
- Notes to Editors
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Notes to Editors
SmartChar: Enabling Climate-Positive Construction
Aston University is leading a major national research programme to transform how the UK designs, builds, and maintains infrastructure. Supported by £5.7 million from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), SmartChar is developing next-generation concrete that stores carbon, monitors its own performance, and supports the transition to Net Zero - redefining how infrastructure is designed, built and managed.
SmartChar is led by Aston University in partnership with Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh, alongside a wider network of 26 organisations spanning industry, policy, and research.About Aston University
For over 130 years, Aston University has been making our world a better place through education, research and innovation. Our history is intertwined with the remarkable city of Birmingham, once the heartland of the Industrial Revolution and now the thriving base for an innovation ecosystem of global significance, which Aston is co-creating.
Our vision is to be a leading university for science, technology and enterprise, measured by the positive transformational impact we achieve for our people, students, businesses and the communities we serve.
Aston focuses on high-quality, exploitable research that has an impact on society through medical breakthroughs, advancements in engineering, policy and practice in government, and the strategies and performance of business.
The university offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as continuing professional development solutions.
Thanks to its focus on delivering excellent outcomes for students, Aston University's reputation continues to grow. It was recognised as the Daily Mail University of the Year for Student Success 2025, is second in England for social mobility (2023 HEPI Social Mobility Index), and is top 20 for graduate salaries (2024 Longitudinal Education Outcomes).
Aston University is now defining its place in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (and beyond) within a rapidly changing world.
For media inquiries in relation to this release, contact Richard Woodall, PR and Communications Manager, on r.woodall@aston.ac.uk