VTW 2026 Climate Tech Day: Panel discussion at UVic - Commercializing Circular Materials

​Circular materials stall on the systems around them: codes written before these products existed, procurement that defaults to the incumbent, and specification pathways where "unproven" reads as disqualifying. This panel works the commercialization problem directly: what it takes for a circular material to clear standards, earn its way into a spec, and hold its position against established supply.

​The conversation follows a material from the lab, through standards and validation, to the developer deciding whether to put it in a building.

​Speakers

• ​Prof. Rishi Gupta (Civil Engineering, University of Victoria & Director, CAMTEC): researches and tests the structural performance of new and sustainable construction materials, bridging lab validation and code acceptance.

• ​Mike Jain (National Research Council): brings the federal research and standards perspective on how new materials get evaluated, validated, and cleared for use.

• ​More speakers to be announced.

​Expect material specifiers, procurement leads, circular product developers, codes and standards people, founders, and students.

​Getting there

​This listing is for people making their own way to UVic.

If you need a ride from downtown, register for the Community Action Bus instead: It boards downtown at 12:00 PM and returns by 4:30 PM. Register here.

​Part of Climate Tech Day at Victoria Tech Week 2026.