Projects - MgO2026

Background

To limit global temperature rise to below 2°C, we need to radically and rapidly change the way we build and use materials, since construction is responsible for 20–40% of industrial CO₂ emissions. Magnesium-based cements have the potential to become a major carbon sink in the construction industry.

Topics

The conference aims at exchanging state-of-the-art knowledge on future applications, from binder production to application as concrete workability, reaction kinetics, admixtures, hydrates, strength development, durability and leaching.

Subjects

Magnesium carbonate cements
Magnesium silicate cements
Magnesium oxychloride / oxysulfate cements
Magnesium phosphate cements
Carbonation hardening

Key Dates

April 2024: 1^st announcement
January 2025: 2^nd announcement
January-June 2025: abstract submission (e-mail to )
1^st of July: abstract submission DEADLINE
September-November 2025: registration
10–12^th of February 2026: Conference in Murten

Call for papers

Abstracts: Authors are invited to submit a one-page abstract for oral and poster presentations via the conference website or by e-mail to until July 1^st, 2025.
Abstracts will be published in the workshop proceedings. Guidelines for abstracts and papers will be provided on this conference website.

Template for Abstract Submission

Conference fee

Regular registration: CHF 750.–

Students*: CHF 400.–

The fee includes coffee breaks and lunches, Dinner on Tuesday evening and conference dinner on Wednesday. Cancellation fees = 10% before December 1, 2025, no refunds after the end of the registration. Replacement can be possible,

*Student registration requires a proof of enrolment.

Organizers

Frank Winnefeld
Barbara Lothenbach
Ellina Bernard
Raphael Kuhn
Jan Schmitt

International Steering Committee

Celine Cau dit Coumes, CEA Marcoule, France
Shiho Kawashima, Columbia University, New York, USA
Paivo Kinnunen, University of Oulu, Finland
Hegoi Manzano, University of the Basque Country, Spain
Hoang Nguyen, University of Oulu, Finland
John Provis, PSI, Switzerland
Cristina Ruiz Augudo, University of Konstanz, Germany
Allan Scott, University of Canterbury, New Zealand
Cise Unluer, University of Manchester, UK
Hong Wong, Imperial College London, UK
Biwan Xu, Tongji University, China

Administration

For general information please contact:

For information regarding registration and payments:

Information on the scientific program:
www.empa.ch/web/MgO2026

Conference location and accommodation

https://company.sbb.ch/en/sbb-as-business-partner/services/centre-loewenberg.html
Murten is a historic medieval town at the French-German language border in Switzerland, offering historic sites, beautiful views and numerous hiking trails.
Murten is located less than two hours from the international airports in Zurich, Geneva, Basle or Berne and can be easily reached by car or via hourly train connections from all major Swiss cities.
For detailed information including hotel information, detailed conference program, abstract and final paper submission and electronic registration:

www.empa.ch/web/MgO2026
email:

Hotel

Overnight accommodation for the participants can be booked at the Centre Loewenberg in Murten.

A contingent has been reserved for conference participants until 09.01.2026. Rooms can be booked directly with the hotel using the reference “1st International Conference on: Mg-based cements”.