Amid the global push for “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals and the widespread adoption of sustainable development principles, the international building materials industry is undergoing a profound transformation, facing both challenges and significant opportunities. Given that the construction sector is a major contributor to energy consumption and carbon emissions, a green and low-carbon transition has become an imperative trend. The development of green, low-carbon, and high-performance advanced building materials is a key driver for high-quality growth in construction. It critically impacts emission reduction and ecological benefits across a building's entire lifecycle. This shift not only addresses persistent industry challenges—such as high energy use, high emissions, and severe pollution—but also aligns with national green development strategies and supports global carbon neutrality objectives. Consequently, it plays a vital role in fostering the synergistic transformation of the international building materials industry and building a sustainable, green, and low-carbon global ecosystem for construction.

In April 2024, the Macau University of Science and Technology initiated and hosted an academic conference in Macau, focusing on the development and engineering applications of advanced high-performance building materials. The event gathered leading scholars and scientists from around the world for in-depth discussions on this timely topic. Subsequently, Wuhan University of Technology held its second conference in Zhongshan in April 2025, themed “Driven by Low-Carbon and Cost-Reduction Demands: Transforming Technology into New Quality Productive Forces to Empower the Industry.” The conference explored how to translate advanced and high-end building materials technologies into new quality productive forces that propel the high-quality development of the industry. The success of these inaugural conferences has provided valuable insights for the green and sustainable development of building materials worldwide.

The 3rd International Conference on the Development and Engineering Application of Advanced High-Performance Building Materials is scheduled for May 2026 in Jinan, Shandong Province. Guided by the China Chapters of both the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI), the conference will be held under the theme “Low-Carbon Drives, AI Innovates, Future of Building Materials.” Jointly organized by Shandong Jianzhu University, Southeast University, Shandong University, and other institutions, the conference aims to establish a platform for global exchange and collaboration. It seeks to assist the building materials industry in achieving breakthroughs in sustainable development, thereby contributing to China's “Carbon Peaking and Carbon Neutrality” goals.

The conference will organize its discussions around several key areas that are in line with the international community's crucial carbon-reduction agenda and the requirements of major national strategies for the building materials industry. The program will include keynote speeches and a multitude of thematic sessions. Notable highlights of the conference are a “Dialogue with Top Scientists” salon, an academic exchange forum for young scholars, and dedicated communication sessions for outstanding doctoral and master's students. Moreover, the international journal Buildings has launched a special issue dedicated to this conference, offering a waiver of article processing charges (APC) for selected excellent papers accepted for publication.

Changwen Miao — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Hongqi Ma — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Feng Xing — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Shuguang Hu — Chief Professor, Wuhan University of Technology

Zongjin Li — Chair Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology

Xianglin Gu — Professor, Tongji University; President of the RILEM China Chapter

Qijun Yu — Professor, South China University of Technology

Guoiong Guan — Professor, The University of Hong Kong

Xin Cheng — Professor, University of Jinan

Zhonghe Shui — Professor, Wuhan University of Technology

Dongmin Wang — Professor, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)

Yeqing Li — President, Huaxin Cement Co., Ltd.

Chair:

Jiaping Liu — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor, Southeast University

Zongjin Li — Chair Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology

Dehu Yu — Professor, Shandong Jianzhu University

Vice Chairs:

Caijun Shi — Foreign Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Professor, Hunan University

Fazhou Wang — Professor, Wuhan University of Technology

Jianguo Dai — Chair Professor, City University of Hong Kong

Jinyang Jiang — Professor, Southeast University

Tiejun Liu — Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology

Biqin Dong — Professor, Shenzhen University

Zuquan Jin — Professor, Qingdao University of Technology

Juanhong Liu — Professor, University of Science and Technology Beijing

Xin Zhang — Professor, Shandong Jianzhu University

Chair:

Dehu Yu

Vice Chairs:

Liping Qiu, Xin Zhang, Liping Li, Guoxing Sun, Kai Yan, Qiaoling Liu

Secretaries-General:

Yunjuan Chen, Wenming Wang, Dapeng Qiu

Changwen Miao — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Shucai Li —Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Feng Xing — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering

Zongjin Li — Chair Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology

Qijun Yu — Professor, South China University of Technology

Fazhou Wang — Professor, Wuhan University of Technology

Xianglin Gu — Professor, Tongji University; President of the RILEM China Chapter

Xin Zhang — Professor, Shandong Jianzhu University

Zuquan Jin — Professor, Qingdao University of Technology

Baosong Ma — Professor, Sun Yat-sen University

Zhonghe Shui — Professor, Wuhan University of Technology

Dongmin Wang — Professor, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)

Zhi Ge — Professor, Shandong University

Xiangguo Wu — Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology

Baoguo Han — Professor, Dalian University of Technology

Jing Zhong — Professor, Harbin Institute of Technology

Tao Yu — Professor, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Qingliang Yu — Professor, Eindhoven University of Technology

1.1 Conference Theme:

Low-Carbon Drives, AI Innovates, Future of Building Materials

1.2 Conference Dates:

May 15–18, 2026

1.3 Conference Venue:

Shungeng Villa Hotel

(No. 28 Shungeng Road, Shizhong District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China – Southeast Corner of the Intersection of Shungeng Road and Qianfoshan South Road)

1.4 Conference Organization

(1) Advisory Organizations:

- RILEM China Chapter

- ACI China Chapter

(2) Host Organization:

Shandong Jianzhu University

(3) Co-host Organizations:

- Southeast University

- Shandong University

- University of Jinan

- Qingdao University of Technology

- Shandong Jiaotong University

(4) Supporting Organizations:

- Engineering Identification and Reinforcement Research Institute Co., Ltd. of Shandong Jianzhu University

- State Grid Electric Power Engineering Research Institute Co., Ltd.

- Shandong Fucou Electronic Technology Co., Ltd.

- Jiangsu Donghua Testing Technology Co., Ltd.

- Shandong Yongzheng Industrial Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.

- Shandong High-speed Railway Equipment Co., Ltd.

- Shandong Huadi Construction Technology Co., Ltd.

- Suzhou Niumai Analytical Instruments Co., Ltd.

- Editorial Office of *Buildings*

3.1 Keynote Speakers

Changwen Miao — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering  

Report Title: To be announced (TBA)

Feng Xing — Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering  

Report Title: TBA

Zongjin Li — Chair Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology  

Report Title: TBA

Tao Yu — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Report Title: FRP-Reinforced Seawater Sea-Sand Concrete Structures

Qingliang Yu — Eindhoven University of Technology

Report Title: Advances in the Development of Novel Calcium Carbonate-Based Cements

Xin Cheng — University of Jinan

Report Title: TBA

Hongyan Ma — Missouri University of Science and Technology

Report Title: Transformative Magnesium-Based Alternative Cement toward Carbon Negativity

Dongmin Wang — China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing)

Report Title: Flexible All-Solid-State Sensors for In-Situ, Real-Time, and Non-Destructive Tracking of Chloride Ion Ingress in Concrete for Structural Health Monitoring

Xin Zhang — Shandong Jianzhu University

Report Title: Research Progress and Engineering Demonstration of High-Performance Inorganic-Bonded Bamboo Composite Materials and Structures

3.2 Top Scientists Salon (Proposed Participants)

Changwen Miao, Feng Xing, Zongjin Li, Qijun Yu, Fazhou Wang, Xianglin Gu, Zuquan Jin, Xin Zhang, Baosong Ma, Zhonghe Shui, Dongmin Wang, Zhi Ge, Xiangguo Wu, Baoguo Han (List in continuous update...)

4.1 Special Sessions

- "Dialogue with Top Scientists" Salon Session

- Young Scholars Academic Exchange

4.2 Parallel Sessions Arrangement

- Session 1: Green and Low-Carbon Building Materials & Comprehensive Utilization of Solid Wastes

Topics include: Green and low-carbon Building materials and their structural systems, solid waste-based cementitious materials and aggregates, recycling of construction and demolition waste, etc.

- Session 2: Advanced Functional Materials

Topics include: Bio-inspired self-powering materials, structural-functional integrated energy storage materials, self-healing materials, etc.

- Session 3: AI-Empowered Building Materials

Topics include: Interdisciplinary research between artificial intelligence and materials science

- Session 4: Advanced Building Materials for Extreme Environments

Topics include: Building materials for alpine regions, marine environments, highly corrosive conditions, etc.

- Session 5: Urban Renewal and Infrastructure Construction  

Topics include: Structural strengthening & retrofitting, performance enhancement, and infrastructure development, etc.

4.3 Graduate Student Forum

The Graduate Student Forum will feature a specially appointed Expert Review Committee to evaluate presentations based on academic innovation and on-site performance.

Topics include (but are not limited to):

- Preparation technologies for solid waste-based cementitious materials

- Theory and application of advanced functional-structural integrated materials

- Theoretical and applied research on the intersection of artificial intelligence and green building materials

- Multi-scale computation and simulation of cementitious material microstructure

- Preparation and application of high-performance cement-based materials

- Zero-carbon cementitious materials

- Carbon mineralization materials and technologies

4.4 Advanced Scientific and Technological Achievements Exhibition

(1) Academic Achievements Display Area:  

A poster session area will be set up outside the main conference hall. Interested participants are welcome to contact the relevant coordinators to present their academic findings or applied research outcomes via posters. Young scholars and graduate students are particularly encouraged to utilize this platform to exchange new ideas and share their latest achievements.

(2) Advanced Industry Products Exhibition:  

A dedicated exhibition area outside the main venue will showcase new technologies and products in advanced high-performance building materials and their engineering applications, developed by participating organizations.

5.1 Conference Registration

Please send the conference receipt (see Attachment 1) and the submitted paper to the conference email address: ahpbm2026_register@163.com.

5.2 Registration Fee

- Regular Participant: CNY 3,000 per person

- Graduate Student: CNY 1,500 per person

Accommodation and meals will be arranged by the organizing committee, with costs borne by the participants. Payment can be made on-site upon registration.

5.3 Conference Venue and Accommodation

Venue: Shungeng Villa Hotel

(No. 28 Shungeng Road, Shizhong District, Jinan City, Shandong Province, China – Southeast Corner of the Intersection of Shungeng Road and Qianfoshan South Road) Travel routes are provided in Appendix 2.

Accommodation: Shungeng Villa Hotel

- Standard Room / Double Bed Room: CNY 380 per room per night

The conference will feature keynote speeches, thematic parallel sessions, academic salons, and graduate student forums covering the following areas:

- Low-carbon building materials and solid waste utilization

- Exploration of advanced functional and structural materials

- High-performance materials supporting major engineering construction

- Advanced materials for infrastructure retrofitting and urban renewal

- Research, development, and application of building materials in the context of artificial intelligence

To promote the sustainable development of the building materials industry towards the "dual carbon" goals and to establish a platform for exchange and collaboration among peers both domestically and internationally, this conference, in collaboration with the journal Buildings, has launched a special conference issue: "Advanced High-Performance Building Materials Development and Application". This special issue requires an article processing charge (APC), and conference participants may submit their papers voluntarily. For submission, please visit: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/buildings/special_issues/8IYDAZG09B

RILEM China Chapter

ACI China Chapter

Shandong Jianzhu University

March 30, 2026

Appendix 1:Appendix 1 REGISTRATION FORM.docx

Jinan City

Natural Endowment: A Land of Gushing Springs and Clear Lakes

Historical Depth: An Ancient City Where Past and Present Converge

Culinary Delights: A Feast Nourished by the Springs