TCC-CIMET Hosts German University Presidents to Strengthen Strategic Partnerships

Director of Business Development and Sustainability at TCC-CIMET and Principal Investigator of BUCABUMA, Prof. Alexander Marful, elaborated on the Centre’s sustainable building efforts.

 “The building sector contributes significantly to global CO₂ emissions, making it crucial to rethink design and construction. At BUCABUMA, we are developing new building materials, alternative cement formulations, and innovative methods that enable circular use of structural components. This reduces waste, improves efficiency, and fosters economic growth in the sector.”

Prof. Marful emphasized that the project also serves as a capacity-building platform for engineers, architects, and construction professionals, equipping them to implement green and circular practices. He noted that BUCABUMA aligns with TCC-CIMET’s mission to translate research into scalable solutions benefiting communities, industry, and the environment.

The discussions further highlighted opportunities in e-mobility, community-based smart cities, and capacity building, emphasizing innovation challenges, mobility programs, and strategic partnerships with pilot centres to deliver impactful solutions for both industry and society.

Prof. Angela Ittel, President of Technische Universität Braunschweig, expressed interest in the Centre’s electric vehicle training, workshops, and research hub, highlighting its potential as a dynamic platform for hands-on learning and international collaboration.

“For more than a decade, we have been developing a campus adjacent to Volkswagen, now evolving into an independent, collaborative hub for innovation. Building on our long-standing work in circular economy and advanced materials, we are launching hands-on ‘Explorer Masters’ programmes where students learn through real-world research rather than traditional lectures. This model, combined with international training workshops for both researchers and industry professionals, represents a transformative approach to engineering education one that strongly supports the development of globally connected electric vehicle training and research hubs,” she said.

President of the University of Kassel, Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, also expressed interest in some areas that the centre operates in.

“I would be interested to talk about what we can do together in sustainability, urban research, architecture, and green materials. We aim to work closely with communities, reusing structural components and integrating local knowledge, while connecting this with hands-on student training, electric vehicle research, and smart manufacturing. This collaboration can really bridge research, practice, and international exchange,” she said.

The delegation visited the pilot building, which serves as the testing site for the BUCABUMA project.