India and Norway Explore Joint Technologies to Convert Industrial Waste into Construction Resources
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), in association with SINTEF and the Research Council of Norway, organised the India–Norway Dialogue on “Waste to Resource Solutions in the Cement and Construction Sector” on 10 November 2026 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
The dialogue brought together representatives from CSIR institutes, SINTEF, regulatory authorities and the cement and construction industries to explore collaborative approaches for sustainable waste management and resource recovery.
Context of the Dialogue
The event aligns with the vision of elevating India–Norway relations to a Green Strategic Partnership, with circular economy, clean technology and research at its core. This partnership was strengthened during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Norway in May.
Key Focus Areas
Discussions centred on transitioning from a linear to a circular economy by converting construction and industrial waste into valuable resources. Topics covered included:
-
Utilisation of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, steel slag, fly ash, red mud and other industrial residues
-
Cement kiln co-processing for the safe destruction of hazardous wastes, including Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
-
Opportunities for using industrial by-products in road construction, geopolymer concrete and value-added construction materials
-
International best practices in C&D waste recycling and processing techniques
Technical sessions featured contributions from experts of CSIR-CBRI, CSIR-NEERI, CSIR-CRRI, CSIR-AMPRI and SINTEF.
Future Collaboration Priorities
Participants identified several priority areas for continued engagement:
-
Development of two to three joint India–Norway research proposals
-
Pilot-scale demonstration projects for hazardous waste treatment
-
Technical guidelines for the disposal of DDT and PCB-contaminated waste
-
Advancement of waste-derived construction materials
-
Strengthening of industry–academia partnerships
The dialogue concluded with a shared emphasis on deepening bilateral research and technological cooperation to support sustainable and resource-efficient practices in the cement and construction sectors.