INSEE i2i Collaboration Space hosts first-ever webinar to boost Sri Lanka’s Collaborative Construction Platform

The premier local cement manufacturer INSEE Cement Sri Lanka together with the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), successfully hosted the first large two-part Webinar forum recently, on ‘Overview of International Cement Standards for Performance-based specifications’. 

INSEE Cement Sri Lanka Marketing, Sales and Innovation Executive Vice President Jan Kunigk

INSEE/Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd. Head of Products and Solutions Portfolio Dr. Moussa Baalbaki

The Webinar organised by INSEE i2i (innovation to industry) Collaboration space marked the first time in which industry experts led an online knowledge sharing session to promote open innovation and collaboration in the local construction industry. 

The keynote presentation  conducted by Siam City Cement (Lanka) Ltd. Head of Products and Solutions Portfolio Dr. Moussa Baalbaki, focusing on creating a virtual collaboration space, saw over 200 online participants comprising  university students, academics, engineers, contractors, local cement and concrete manufacturers, and members from government and other professional institutions, from across nine countries such as Switzerland, Germany, UK, Bangladesh, India, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam, including Sri Lanka. 

Contrary to the popular norm in the construction industry, the highlight of the webinar was seeing 18% of female participation at the active knowledge sharing session. 

The keynote program was followed by an interactive panel discussion with guest panellists in the likes of University of Moratuwa Department of Civil Engineering Senior Professor Prof. Anura Nanayakkara, University of Peradeniya Department of Civil Engineering Senior Professor and IESL Civil Engineering Sectional Committee Chairman Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake, INSEE Cement Sri Lanka Marketing, Sales and Innovation Executive Vice President Jan Kunigk and keynote presenter Dr. Moussa Baalbaki. 

Speaking at the webinar, Dr. Moussa Baalbaki said: “It is all about creating shared knowledge space for developing sustainable cement and concrete based product solutions. At a time of need, leveraging on our digital capabilities – INSEE i2i Collaboration space swiftly transformed its monthly knowledge sharing sessions to a virtual collaborative platform, to be productive during COVID-19 pandemic. 

“We are committed to reshaping the local construction industry to international standards by continuously engaging with the young students, industry experts, academics, designers, masons, contractors, engineers and members from private and public institutions.”

The knowledge-sharing sessions are held on the last Thursday of every month. Introduced by INSEE in collaboration with IESL, since June 2018, every session has benefitted about 150 persons of the ‘industry community’. The space allows to share experience and knowledge transfer to the Sri Lankan construction industry and seamlessly connect to different stakeholders through an informal environment that now has transformed into a digital platform. 

Jan Kunigk addressing the online participants stated: “Leading through innovation and sustainability, at INSEE, we are focused in shaping a smarter future for Sri Lanka’s Construction industry. Every day we challenge our own concepts and ideas on new product solutions, research and development to become the best version of ourselves. 

“Our people have been the biggest asset to our success of the company and in producing Sri Lanka’s most-loved cement brands such as INSEE Sanstha and Mahaweli Marine plus. This is why, we invest in people’s knowledge and skills today, to build a better economy and life for our people tomorrow. At INSEE, we believe in ‘Build for Life’ – building a life worth living’.”