Cemex has been named a Global Innovator at the 6th Annual BuiltWorlds Global Innovators Awards. Explore the recognition, context, and Cemex Ventures’ track record of industry-leading innovation in construction technology.
A New Milestone in a Long Track Record of Recognition
Cemex has once again earned its place among the world’s most forward-thinking organizations in the built environment. At the 6th Annual BuiltWorlds Global Innovators Awards, Cemex was named one of the Global Innovators Top 50— a prestigious list that spotlights fifty companies from around the world driving the digital transformation of construction and infrastructure.
This recognition is more than a badge of honor. It is a reflection of a sustained, deliberate commitment to innovation that Cemex Ventures has been building since its founding in 2017.
What Is the BuiltWorlds Global Innovators Award?
BuiltWorlds is one of the leading research and events organizations in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) sector. Each year, it publishes the Global Innovators list to recognize organizations that are actively shaping the future of the built environment through technology adoption, investment, and digital transformation.
Now in its sixth edition, the award has evolved into one of the most respected benchmarks of innovation leadership in the global construction industry. This year’s honorees were selected based on their strategic moves in digitalization, sustainability, and technology deployment across the asset lifecycle, from design and procurement through construction, operations, and maintenance.
As Audrey Lynch, Director of Research at BuiltWorlds, noted about this year’s cohort: the recognized companies represent the very best of the industry’s efforts to improve how we build and operate structures and infrastructure.
Cemex Ventures: Built for Innovation Since 2017
Cemex Ventures was launched in 2017 as the open innovation and corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Cemex. Since then, it has grown into one of the most active investors and innovation catalysts in the global construction technology ecosystem.
With investments in over 25 companies across the AEC space, Cemex Ventures has built a portfolio that directly supports Cemex’s broader “Future in Action” net-zero roadmap. The strategy is clear: back startups that can deliver measurable environmental and operational impact, and integrate those solutions across Cemex’s operations in the Americas and Europe.
A History of Awards and Recognition
The 2026 Global Innovators recognition is part of a growing pattern of external validation for Cemex’s innovation leadership. Here is a timeline of key accolades:
2024 — Global Innovators 75 (BuiltWorlds, 5th Edition)
Cemex Ventures was featured in BuiltWorlds’ 5th Annual Global Innovators list, recognized as one of the most active investors and innovators in the built world, with particular mention of its Startup Competition and CVC activities in construction tech and industry 4.0.
2023 & 2024 — Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars (ICC & Mind the Bridge)
Cemex was recognized among the Top 100 Corporate Startup Stars for two consecutive years — 2023 and 2024 — in the annual celebration of best global practices in open innovation, organized by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and Mind the Bridge. In 2023, Cemex additionally received the Special Award: CVC to Deploy Sustainable Construction, acknowledging its outstanding role in fostering corporate-startup collaboration focused on sustainability.
2025 (announced March 2026) — Sustainability Investor of the Year (BuiltWorlds)
In one of its most significant recognitions to date, Cemex Ventures was named Sustainability Investor of the Year at the BuiltWorlds 2025 Investor Awards. The award was presented to Jesús Ortiz, representing Cemex Ventures, during a ceremony that brought together global leaders in infrastructure and construction technology. The recognition specifically acknowledged the firm’s growing portfolio of startups focused on climate solutions, digitalization, and advanced construction technologies — including its strategic investment in Terra CO2, whose OPUS SCM product can reduce cement-related emissions by up to 70%.
2026 — Global Innovators Top 50 (BuiltWorlds, 6th Edition)
The most recent recognition. Cemex has been named one of the 50 leading global organizations advancing the future of the built environment at the 6th Annual BuiltWorlds Global Innovators Awards.
Why This Recognition Matters Now
The construction industry stands at an inflection point. Governments are ramping up investment in transport, energy, and urban infrastructure. At the same time, the sector faces mounting pressure to decarbonize, digitize, and improve productivity, challenges that cannot be solved with yesterday’s tools.
For Cemex Ventures, innovation is not a side initiative. As we firmly believe at Cemex Ventures: innovation is no longer optional for the industry , it is the operating layer behind productivity, sustainability, and scalability across the built world.
Companies that integrate technology effectively are increasingly setting the pace for the rest of the industry. Being recognized on the Global Innovators list is a signal that Cemex is not just adapting to the future of construction — it is helping to define it.
Looking Ahead: Paris Global Summit
The conversation doesn’t stop here. Cemex will be represented at the upcoming #ParisGlobalSummit hosted by BuiltWorlds, where leaders from across the global construction ecosystem, startups, corporates, investors, and innovators, come together to accelerate the adoption of transformative technologies.
It’s a fitting stage for a company that has spent nearly a decade proving that construction can be smarter, cleaner, and more connected.
