The Swiss cement industry wants to be climate-neutral by 2050. Our company wants to play a leading role in this endeavour. Innovation is part of our DNA, and developing sustainable solutions is one of our priorities. We want to reinvent the way our world is built.

Question 1: When and in what context did you first hear about Engineers' Day? 
We were contacted as a potential sponsor in 2022 based on personal contacts.

Question 2: This is the first time your company has participated in Engineers' Day as a sponsor. Why are you involved in this event?
Engineers are important partners for us. They are among the decision-makers who determine which building materials are used today and in the future. As one of the leading solution providers in the field of building materials, we are constantly developing new, more climate-friendly products. Only if these solutions are convincing for engineers will they be used in practice.

Question 3: Which goal or goals would you emphasise as the most important priority in terms of your commitment to sustainability on Engineers' Day or in everyday life?
The Swiss cement industry wants to be climate-neutral by 2050. Our company wants to play a leading role in this. Innovation is part of our DNA, and developing sustainable solutions is one of our priorities. We want to reinvent the way our world is built.

Question 4: Why do you think engineers and their achievements are not recognised enough in everyday life and what can engineers do to improve this?  
Like many professionals, engineers tend to be quiet creators. In order to gain attention, their voice should be heard more often in public debates and the media, for example in large construction projects, political issues such as education, etc. Strong associations such as Swiss Engineering play an important role here.

Question 5: If you had one wish to influence the promotion of young talent even more, who would it be and what would it be?
Education as one of the most important raw materials should be a top priority in Switzerland. Both academic and non-academic professions should be promoted on an equal footing. In order to get more young people, especially girls, interested in technology, technology and the engineering profession should be presented in a more emotional and fresh way.

Question 6: Do you have any other wishes in connection with Engineers' Day?
We are looking forward to a stimulating day with lots of exciting discussions on how building materials and concrete in particular can promote a sustainable construction industry. The entire life cycle of a building or a building material should be considered.

Question 7: What do you see as the most important future challenge(s) for which we urgently need more engineers?
One of the most challenging questions of our time is how we can organise our lives in such a sustainable way that we do not overexploit the environment. Sustainable infrastructure is one of the major sticking points here. This is where the brightest minds are needed, and engineers can make a major contribution.

About the JURA Materials-Group
The JURA Materials-Group comprises leading Swiss companies from the building materials industry. We extract raw materials such as sand and gravel, produce cement, paving and concrete and recycle and dispose of a wide range of materials. This year we became the first cement manufacturer in Switzerland to launch a highly CO2-reduced cement with calcined clay, JURA ECO3. Ten years ago, we launched JURA ECO, the first sustainable, clinker-reduced cement in the whole of Switzerland. The JURA ECO3 cement is therefore a consistent further development of sustainable cements with an improved CO2 footprint. It forms the basis of the JURA Materials Group's constantly growing ecological product line.

Thank you very much for this interview.

Further information about the JURA Materials Group can be found here