CRH Ventures’ Roads of the Future Accelerator: Paving the Way for Innovation

In today’s rapidly evolving world, the need for innovative solutions to address challenges has never been more apparent.  One such challenge lies in the domain of transportation infrastructure, where aging roads and highways strain under the weight of increasing traffic and environmental concerns.  Recognizing the need for transformation in this sector, CRH Ventures has launched the Roads of the Future Accelerator, an initiative aimed at bolstering innovation and driving positive change in the construction and maintenance of roadways.

America’s infrastructure continues to face significant challenges, with many roads, bridges, and public transportation systems in dire need of repair and modernization. The aging infrastructure not only poses safety risks but also hampers economic growth and competitiveness on a global scale. Despite ongoing discussions and occasional investments, a comprehensive and sustainable solution to address these infrastructural issues remains elusive, requiring concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors. Read our recent article about four recent infrastructure disasters that highlight the need to fix this issue.

CRH Ventures, a venture capital arm of CRH – a large building materials companies, brings decades of experience to the table.  The program will help participants by providing funding, mentorship, and access to industry experts and resources, the accelerator aims to speed the development and adoption of innovative approaches to road construction, maintenance, and management in order to address the issues plaguing the sector.

Aside from the need to address our infrastructure sector from a safety standpoint, there is an equal need to bring about solutions that can drive more sustainable practices about how we are constructing roadways and other infrastructure projects.  With climate change posing a growing threat, there is an urgent need to rethink traditional methods of road construction and maintenance.  The roads of the future must be built to withstand the challenges of a changing climate while minimizing their environmental footprint.

Through the accelerator program, startups and entrepreneurs are encouraged to explore a wide range of innovative technologies and approaches, from advanced materials and construction techniques to smart infrastructure systems and predictive maintenance solutions. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and renewable energy, participants are hoping to change the way roads are designed, built, and managed.

Participants will also have the opportunity to collaborate with industry leaders, research institutions, and government agencies to pilot and deploy their solutions in real-world settings.  By bringing together startups, investors, industry partners, and policymakers, CRH Ventures aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, networking, and collaboration to build a more sustainable and resilient transportation infrastructure network.

As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of urbanization, climate change, and technological disruption, initiatives like the Roads of the Future Accelerator could play a critical role in shaping the future of transportation infrastructure.

This program is now accepting applications. You can find more details and apply by clicking here.

BuiltWorlds is thrilled to announce that we are launching a research track that will dive deep into the large sector of infrastructure in hopes of understanding more about the topic and addressing issues surrounding it that have been ignored for far too long. We will also be launching a new conference in our series with the 2024 Infrastructure Conference taking place in Washington D.C. this October.