Will the construction industry win the Dutch Innovation Award 2022?

Construction industry has a chance to win the 2022 Dutch Innovation Award

Self-Healing Concrete by Basilisk Self-Healing Concrete has been nominated for The Dutch Innovation Award 2022. Besides innovative ability, the positive impact the innovation has on people and the environment is decisive. Whether the construction industry takes credit for innovation in the Netherlands this year is largely in the hands of the public.

Cracks in concrete occur from the moment it is poured. To keep a structure strong, concrete is reinforced with reinforcing steel. That steel can rust due to moisture entering through the concrete cracks, the well-known concrete rot. Thanks to the invention of Professor Henk Jonkers (TU Delft), this is a thing of the past and considerably less reinforcing steel is needed.

Why self-healing concrete

"Thanks to an innovative mixture, bacteria are added to the concrete mixture. When moisture then enters the concrete cracks it activates the bacteria," explains Managing Director Bart van der Woerd. "Once active, these bacteria produce limestone that fills the cracks and thus makes the crack watertight again. That means up to 40% less rebar, less maintenance and less Co2." Meanwhile, Basilisk Self-Healing Concrete is already being used worldwide. More explanation in this video created for the Dutch Innovation Award 2022.

Audience determines winner

The winner of the Dutch Innovation Award 2022 for 60% will be determined by the professional jury and 40% by the voters online. Thus, the Dutch public has a major influence on who the winner will be. Do you think Basilisk with self-healing concrete should win?

Vote for concrete that repairs itself. Voting is open until 12:00 p.m. on Oct. 31. 

This year's expert jury consists of: Gerard Bakker (inspector general NVWA), Hans Boumans (Technology Transfer Manager TNO), Jos de Groen (senior policy officer SER), Thomas Grosfeld (specialist Innovation and Top Sector Policy VNO-NCW), Donovan van Heuven (editor-in-chief MT/Sprout ), Geert Huizinga (director Advocacy FME), Frederieke Leeflang (chairman of the board NPO), Greet Prins (chairman of the board Chamber of Commerce), Albert Jan Thomassen (director FBNet Family Businesses), Pieter Waasdorp (director Entrepreneurship, Ministry EZK) and Henk Volberda (jury chairman).

The winner of the Dutch Innovation Prize 2022 will be televised on November 2 in the program De Wereld van Morgen at 21:30 on NPO 1. The award will be presented by Nick Schilder, also host of the program.