Sustainable construction materials are essential for reducing the environmental impact of the construction sector, yet innovation in this field remains
slow and fragmented. This thesis examines how fragmentation shapes the early stage development of an ash-based concrete innovation within the AshCycle
project, and how academic boundary spanning helps navigate these boundaries.

The study adopts a qualitative technical case study to assess how fragmentation manifests in the development stage. The technical case study selected for this thesis is an experimental investigation into the long-term bond strength of municipal solid wqste incineration bottom ash alkali-activated concrete mixture. The results of the technical case study show that the incorporation of MSWI bottom ash negatively influences the bond strength of AAC.

Building on this technical case, the research combines 43 autoethnographic journal entries with 15 semi-structured interviews with academic, industry, and government actors. The findings show that fragmentation occurs at multiple levels: within academia itself, between academia and industry, and between innovators and funders. At the same time, academia uses boundary spanning activities such as knowledge transfer, networking, coordination, and leveraging professional networks to bridge these divides. By linking fragmentation and boundary spanning in early-stage material innovation, this thesis contributes a more nuanced understanding of how sustainable construction innovations develop in fragmented environments. ... Read more