A Swiss engineer says he has developed a bamboo composite that has the strength to replace steel reinforcements in construction.

Dirk Hebel – a professor at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich – said the new material could be a serious game changer during his speech at the World Architecture Festival in Singapore.

Professor Hebel says the material could “finally provide an alternative to the monopoly of reinforced concrete”.

The composite is made from bamboo fibre and resin, which its inventor says makes it as strong as steel despite being a less than a third of the weight.

He said there were plenty more potential uses too, including for car body parts.

Professor Hebel said it could have widespread applications in the developing world.

Handily, some note, the areas where bamboo grows are also those expected to experience the most significant growth in urbanisation.