EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A New Mexico State University (NMSU) civil engineering team recently participated in the 2025 Hult Prize Pitch Competition, earning second place with a project that demonstrated how engineering innovation can help reshape the future of sustainable infrastructure.
The team, composed of civil engineering Ph.D. students Samriddhi Ghimire and Rasana Maharjan, presented Smartcrete, a startup concept designed to reduce the environmental impact of construction while enhancing structural safety, according to NMSU.
Their pitch aligned closely with the goals of the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints program, which powers the NMSU Hult Prize and provides specialized support for civil engineering student innovation on campus.
According to NMSU, concrete production accounts for nearly 8 percent of global carbon emissions. Despite being one of the most widely used materials on Earth, concrete structures remain largely “blind” to their own performance.
Ghimire and Maharjan’s concept technology introduces a new generation of lightweight, eco-conscious, intelligent concrete beams. By reducing excess concrete and embedding smart sensing elements, Smartcrete beams lower carbon footprint while gaining the ability to monitor stress, predict failures, and enhance safety; all while reducing long-term maintenance costs.
“Samriddhi and Rasana exemplify the talent and innovation we aim to elevate through the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints,” Carlos Murguia, director of the Hunt Center for Entrepreneurship, said. “Their work demonstrates how civil engineering can help solve global challenges through smarter, more sustainable materials and technologies.”
This year’s Hult Prize competition brought together students from a wide range of majors, each developing entrepreneurship-driven solutions to global issues aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Winning teams advance to the national Hult Prize event, but the competition also serves as a platform to recognize emerging innovators across disciplines, particularly those working at the intersection of engineering and sustainability, according to NMSU.
“Supporting civil engineering innovation is a core objective of the Mike Hunt Construction Sprints,” Dana Catron, interim director and CEO of Arrowhead Center, said. “Smartcrete is a powerful example of how deeply technical research can translate into real-world solutions that make infrastructure safer, greener, and more resilient.”
According to NMSU, the Smartcrete team will continue refining their concept with support from the Hunt Center’s entrepreneurial programming.
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