FAQs

Implementation of the technologies developed through CAN will enable the next level of performance in construction while conserving natural resources, reducing the industry’s carbon footprint, and providing a value-added proposition for concrete in a circular economy. The proposed thrust areas will be further refined by the Industrial Advisory Board members:

• Multi-functional cementitious and UHPC materials
• Digital concrete and additive manufacturing 
• Enabling increased recyclability, off-spec materials, and by-product utilization 
• Carbon reduction, sequestration, and carbonated binders 
• Smart concrete: embedded sensors, conductivity, piezo-response 
• Data mining, machine learning, and AI
• Structure-property-performance, control of concrete durability, longevity, and life-cycle modeling

Companies representing the cement and concrete industry and university members: the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (lead site) and partner sites Oregon State University.

• Relevant, pre-competitive research projects based on industry’s unmet/underserved needs; 
• Access to students (as interns or permanent hires); 
• Access to university resources/facilities (faculty, labs, others); 
• Access to IP and pre-publications; 
• Voting rights (based on the type of membership) for selection/funding of projects;
• Networking with peers; 
• Research cost avoidance, research cost savings and/or simulated R&D

Full Members: A member that pays $50,000 per year to member universities, either as a lump sum or in four equal quarterly installments. Full membership benefits include full voting rights pertaining to project selection and all matters related to the Center, selection of one person to represent the company on the CAN Industrial Advisory Board, the opportunity to review research results prior to publication, and access to nonexclusive royalty-free licenses for university-owned IP and patents.

Associate Members: A member that pays $25,000 per year to member universities, either as a lump sum or in four equal quarterly installments. Associate membership benefits include participating in all center activities, voting during project selection (0.5  voting right), selection of one person to represent the company on the CAN Industrial Advisory Board, and the opportunity to review research program findings prior to publication, and access to nonexclusive royalty-free licenses for university-owned patents.

Affiliate Members: Entities providing approved in-kind contribution, or those involved in the CAN center with conflict-of-interest that may wish to support the center by contributing funds (at the full membership or associate membership level). However, affiliates do not have any voting rights and do not have royalty-free license access to the center IP.

$50,000 for full membership, and $25,000 for associate membership.

New organizations may join CAN upon signing of the existing Membership Agreement, acceptance of then-current bylaws, and payment of at least the first installment of annual membership fees. 

A federal agency may join an existing I/UCRC via an I/UCRC Interagency Agreement (IAA) to the I/UCRC grant. The IAA is frequently referred to as the Military Interdepartmental Purchase Request (MIPR). These membership funds are for supporting scientific and engineering research or education. Please see the link below for more detail. https://iucrc.nsf.gov/universities/solicitation/iucrc-interagency-agreement-requests

Yes, it depends on the level of membership; full and associate members can get a non-exclusive royalty-free (NERF) license; or an exclusive license with royalty. 

Yes, any university (domestic or international) may join CAN. See step 13 for a domestic university to join. For international universities to join, see “Section 2 International Supplements” in the IUCRC solicitation: https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2020/nsf20570/nsf20570.htm

A new Site may join an existing Center provided it meets NSF membership requirements for the expanded Center. The new Site must demonstrate its capabilities and how it intends to fill the gaps/voids in the Center’s research roadmap. The new Site must submit a full proposal that will undergo the NSF merit review process. A Site can only join an IUCRC in the Center’s current Phase, with an award limited to the remaining duration of the active Center. Each new university requesting to join the Center must initially obtain concurrence from the Industrial Advisory Board, Center Director, and Site Directors prior to joining the Center. A Site joining an existing Center must demonstrate its ability to perform synergistic research within the focused research areas of the Center and its willingness to work within the structure, policies, and procedures of CAN. Each new university that requests to become a Partner Site must recruit new organizations to CAN. Recruitment of organizations that are members of existing Sites will not be permitted unless each such organization funds an additional membership. The new Site must also sign the existing Memorandum of Understanding among the other partner institutions of the Center.

• Access to “real-world” research projects/applications (basic &/or use-inspired research) 
• Access to other NSF funding mechanisms (GOALI, PFI-AIR, PFI-RP, I-CORPS, Supplements) 
• Sources for student interns, permanent hires, others 
• Curricula development and/or modifications
• Access to international collaboration
• Long-term relationships with members
• Publications
• Sources for technology commercialization
• Personal growth

IAB is an advisory body composed of representatives from the Center’s member organizations. Each member of the I/UCRC, either full or associate, shall assign a representative to the IAB. The IAB is in the process of formation.

(i) Attend both semi-annual IAB meetings (Spring/mid-March and Fall/mid-September); (ii) Participate in the process of reviewing and selecting research projects to be funded; (iii) Vote on issues before IAB. 

The IAB also ensures that the university team is conducting research of relevance to the industry Members; and helps refine the mission, vision, and research roadmap for the CAN Center.

Center IAB meetings will be held twice per calendar year, roughly six months apart – in Spring (March) and in Fall (September), annually. The Spring meeting will be hosted by the Lead institution, and Fall meetings will be rotated among the other academic institutions.  Meeting Sites will be contingent on the ability of each Site to host the event and subject to IAB approval of dates and venue. In addition, there will be quarterly luncheon meetings to discuss various topics.

The Center will have an annual request for proposal (RFP) process in which each IAB member submits research topics that include a brief description of critical industry needs (unmet/underserved) and a technical contact at the submitting organization. Project Principal Investigators will subsequently submit research proposals in an IAB-approved format setting forth all appropriate information related to the research topics. The Center will next use a priority-driven ranking mechanism by which the IAB can recommend funding. 

NOTE: “A voting method that allows one IAB Member to independently fully fund its project(s) of choice is viewed as supporting contract work and is disallowed under the IUCRC framework.”