City Hall delegation visits RDCS

Tom Copley, Deputy Mayor of London for Housing and Residential Development and Howard Dawber, Deputy Mayor of London for Business toured the centre, part of a longer trip to the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone. 

Hosting the delegation were RDCS Director Robert de Jong and UEL’s Director of Talent Gateway, Dr Gulnara Stover. They highlighted the centre’s role as a pioneering hub for sustainability in the region.

Strategically positioned to become a regional powerhouse for innovation and creativity, the RDCS, which is partially funded by the Enterprise Zone's Good Growth Fund, aims to lead the way in sustainable skills and solutions.

A standout feature of the visit was a demonstration of Sugarcrete®️, a low-carbon alternative to traditional bricks made from sugarcane by-products. This collaborative project involving UEL and the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) is spearheading sustainable construction solutions using the material.

Led by UEL academics Armor Gutierrez Rivas, SRI Co-Director Alan Chandler, and SRI Research Fellow, Bamdad Ayati, with support from John Kerr of Tate & Lyle Sugars, the project aims to develop scalable ultra-low carbon building materials.

Sugarcrete®️ exhibits exceptional mechanical, acoustic, fire, humidity control and thermal properties. That means it could be used as insulation panels, lightweight blocks, and load-bearing structures. When mass produced, it’s also set to be much cheaper than traditional concrete. 

The tour offered insights into the RDCS's other initiatives, such as the Living Lab, a groundbreaking collaboration with Siemens. It provides a real-world environment for researchers, students, and local businesses to test and adapt technology.

It also featured an insightful presentation and discussion by MassChallenge, the world’s third-largest business accelerator programme. Having successfully piloted in the Royal Docks in 2023, MassChallenge is now eager to expand its impact through the RDCS. David Kinsella, the Managing Director of MassChallenge UK, highlighted the programme’s role in fostering connections among startups, experts, companies, and communities, with the overarching goal of providing more jobs in the area. 

Aligned with UEL’s Vision 2028, the RDCS plays a pivotal role in the University’s commitment to becoming net carbon neutral by 2030. Director Robert de Jong called it,

A vision brought to life that will catalyse sustainable skills across east London, driven by new forms of collaboration and research.” 

Part of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, the RDCS contributes to a plan which aims to create 30,000 new homes, 41,500 jobs, and to attract £8 billion in investment over the next two decades. The centre was launched in November, with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Mayor of Newham, Rokhsana Fiaz OBE present at the opening ceremony.