Objective

The project has two main objectives: generating technology-based business opportunities (TBBO) between the European Union and Latin America; and creating and consolidating a sustainable network of R&I actors who facilitate the creation of these opportunities, even beyond the project lifetime.

The solution (technology)

The project will contribute to the internationalisation of the activities of EIT RawMaterials in Latin America leveraging the ongoing European project ELAN Network and developing a specific raw materials perspective. TREE targets the creation of synergies and networks to promote and foster business opportunities for European actors in the raw materials sector. As a result of TREE activities, the European Union’s economic presence in Latin America will be increased and diversified. European SMEs will have the opportunity to work on applied research and technology transfer, thus gaining access to the Latin American market. In order to achieve these goals, TREE will provide comprehensive information services to participant European SMEs on how-to-do business in specific Latin American countries for European SMEs interested in entering the Latin American market and facilitating advocacy for EU business; and establish an institutional network of European and Latin American research centres for the exchange of knowledge and technology transfer.

Partnership

• Tecnalia Ventures, Spain (Lead Partner)
• Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Finland

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Objective

Currently no adequate metrics exists that allows to measure the circularity of products, including the unavoidable losses due to thermodynamic laws. We propose the integration and further upscaling development of 3 commercial software packages: CES Selector,HSC Chemistry and openLCA i.e.1+1+1=111. In addition TripleLink combines 3 organizations for relevant roadtesting and 3 researchers. TripleLink delivers integrated software solutions and relevant indicators.

The solution (technology)

Currently no adequate metrics exists that allows to measure the circularity of products, including the unavoidable losses due to thermodynamic laws. Therefore, the TripleLink project proposes the integration and further development of three globally leading commercial software packages: CES Selector (Granta), HSC Chemistry (Outotec) and openLCA (GreenDelta). This project brings the software developers together with three organizations with industrial road-testing case studies and three researchers with world-leading relevant knowledge and ideas on concepts, methods and technologies. Different customers, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) etc. working on materials selection, metals processing and sustainability assessment will benefit from the innovation.
The project has quadruple benefits: (1) Industries from the raw materials value chain are provided with an integrated assessment from the materials composition via the processes simulation to sustainability indicators (including environmental footprints and criticality) to optimize the ‘circularity performance’ of products. (2) three commercial software providers obtain innovative new functionalities to address new markets and service models, (3) the EIT Raw Materials community benefits by recommendations for a general approach in technology assessment as well as a raw materials basis to advise policy on circularity issues, and (4) at the end of the project a Product Circularity Performance Calculation System is available as a way to measure progress towards a circular economy from a product perspective.
The first year is dedicated to method development, scoping and data screening (to reach TRL6), the second year aims at integrating methodology and data via a digital bridge into software packages and linking software together (TRL 6+). At the end of the project, the objective is to reach TRL 7 that refers to “system prototype demonstration in operational environment”, which will deliver an integrating digital platform. The target is to deliver an operational software platform data bridge that integrates openLCA and HSC Chemistry with input data from CES Selector, road-tested in order to be ready to launch them on the market. The goals is thus to deliver the commercial data bridge that combines the commercial software packages. The commercialization will start at the end of the project at an international trade fair.

Partnership

• ERAMET, France
• Eramet Norway, Norway
• Granta Design Limited, United Kingdom
• GreenDelta GmbH, Germany
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V. (HZDR), Germany
• Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux, France
• Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, Netherlands
• Outotec Finland Oy, Finland
• University of Waterloo, Canada
• Université de Bordeaux (Lead Partner), France

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Objective

Diesel exhausts are a growing issue in underground mining, both in terms of working environment and ventilation costs. This project will build upon the Battery Powered Mining Truck developed in SIMS. Current battery technology is capable of converting all mining vehicles to zero emissions, except trucks using long ramps, which requires another solution, the Trolley Truck.

The solution (technology)

A major part of underground mining machines are powered by diesel engines today. The diesel exhaust gases are a health problem in underground mines and require a lot of costly ventilation.The trend in underground mining industry is to reduce or eliminate diesel exhausts.

The new battery machines and deliveries from SIMS program will have a major impact on electrification in the mining industry. The major exception are machines that transport ore from large depths over long distances. The batteries needed for such use would be too large using today’s available technology. The most realistic solution is to supply electric power from the ceiling in the form of a electrified trolley system while driving/operating the mining machine. The key to making this concept mature is to develop a system that is based on an open-system approach and is manageable to install. This needs well defined requirements on the machine, installation and interface. Challenges (different from train and road application) to be especially considered are high power needs, limited space for installation, rough road conditions and conductive dust.

The purpose of this project is to build upon the existing battery-powered mining machines developed in SIMS and to add an electrical trolley system powered by the mine sites power grid. The scope includes identifying customer, technical and safety requirements from a machine and installation point of view and to develop solutions to be implemented in underground mines.

Partnership

• ABB Oy, Process Industries, Electrification, Finland
• Boliden Mineral AB, Sweden
• Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
• Epiroc Rock Drills AB (Lead Partner), Sweden

01 January 2018 – 30 September 2021

Objective

UNDROMEDA is a milestone project within the current leap-frog developments towards the “invisible, zero-impact, intelligent, safe and fully autonomous” mine and enables facing the related challenges for future mining concerning social and environmental acceptance as well as economic efficiency. The autonomous platform and drone will significantly reduce the risk for underground personnel by replacing manual measurements. Automation will reduce time and costs for mapping and monitoring while advanced sensors and their integration will dramatically enhance the information density and quality.

The solution (technology)

The project aims to develop a robotic underground measurement system for autonomous 3D mapping and monitoring. The system is based on a wheel-driven platform which additionally carries a flying drone to approach difficult to access, or hazardous areas in underground environments reducing the risk for personnel by replacing manual measurements. It will strongly enhance the quality of information while significantly reduce time expenditure and costs.

Partnership

• DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Germany (Lead partner)
• Boliden Mineral AB, Sweden
• Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Germany
• French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), France
• German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germany
• Indurad GmbH, Germany
• Inkonova AB, Sweden
• LKAB Minerals AB, Sweden
• LTU Business AB, Sweden
• Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
• Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen), Germany
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Sweden
• Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, Germany
• Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Objective

UNEXUP converts R&D results from the UNEXMIN project into a commercial service to resurvey Europe’s flooded underground mines. Improvements will be made to the UX-1 research prototype, raising technology readiness to TRL 7/8. A “real service-to-real client” approach will be demonstrated, supporting mineral exploration and mine surveying efforts in Europe with unique data from flooded environments that cannot be obtained economically otherwise.

The solution (technology)

The purpose of UNEXUP is to commercially deploy a new mineral exploration / mine mapping service based on a new class of mine explorer robots for the re-surveying of Europe’s flooded mines that cannot be explored by any other means. The inaccessibility of the operational environment makes autonomy a critical and primary objective of the project that will represent a substantial effort in re-surveying mineral deposits in Europe where the major challenges are the geological uncertainty, technological and economic feasibility of mine development. UNEXUP will open up long-term cooperation possibilities between Europe’s raw materials (mining, surveying, geological consulting, etc) and robotic technology provider sectors where the aim is to reduce the current high and growing costs for exploration. Our robot’s ability to bring back high-quality, high-resolution information from currently inaccessible mine sites will also increase our knowledge of mineral deposits in Europe whilst decreasing exploration costs (such as the number of expensive deep drills needed).

UNEXUP will strenghten an already existing autonomous robotic solution deriving from the Horizon 2020 funded project UNEXMIN (Underwater Explorer for Flooded Mines, www.unexmin.eu), to explore underground flooded mines otherwise inaccessible without high costs and human risks. As a result of UNEXUP a novel surveying system will be introduced to the European market that will have the ability to produce geological, mineralogical and spatial information in the safest way possible from flooded mines and other underwater confined environments, filling a specific market need that is not currently covered. The project targets stakeholders from the mining, robotics and mineral exploration sectors as well as all other sectors that have any kind of underwater structure that needs to be surveyed – caves and fisheries are among them.

The robotic platform will be tested in a number of sites across Europe that will prove the concept up to a near-market level (TRL 7/8). This will be achieved by using the technology to survey flooded mines and retrieving important geological and spatial information that can lead to considerations on the reopening of mines across Europe, while using a sustainable and cost effective exploration technology. UNEXUP technology is inline with the current European policy and EIT Raw Materials Strategic view on raw materials and works towards its objectives. In the end UNEXUP will directly and indirectly create jobs, foster economies and contribute to solve the raw materials dependency within Europe, that will strenghten its industry.

UNEXUP is meant to be a continuation of the UNEXMIN project, funded the EC H2020 programme. In UNEXUP we will raise technology readiness levels and deliver a corresponding commercial service. A fourth modular robot will be added to the current multi-robot platform providing additional functionalities including better range and depth performance. This upgraded robot will also have the capacity to rescue any of the other robots, improving the commercial and financial security of mine surveying missions. These added functions arise from different stakeholder engagement dialogues from the UNEXMIN project.

To deliver this innovative and challenging solution, the project brings together a consortium focused on robotics, raw materials and mineral exploration that includes three SMEs, universities, research centres.

Partnership

• Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS), Slovenia
• Institute for Systems and Computer Engineering, Technology and Science, Portugal
• La Palma Research Centre for Future Studies SL, Spain
• RESOURCES COMPUTING INTERNATIONAL LTD, United Kingdom
• Tampere University (TAU), Finland
• UNEXMIN GeoRobotics, Hungary
• Technical University of Madrid, Spain
• University of Miskolc (Lead Partner), Hungary

Project duration: 1 April 2017 – 31 March 2020

Objective

The solution (technology)

The UpDeep consortium increases co-operation between geochemical exploration industry in Europe. Geochemical, exploration, data analysis and data interpretation expertise are being shared in the UpDeep consortium by engaging every partner to participate in every WP. The strength of the UpDeep consortium is the wide cross-disciplinary project group which allows application of very specific knowledge fields (geochemical expertise, mineral exploration expertise, data analysis, data analysis pipelining) into the establishment of geochemical exploration business in Europe. The co-operation with world-leading experts will be revived during the project as subcontracting of educational services in surface geochemical data interpretation thus increasing the awareness of European exploration research activities outside of Europe. On EU level the outcome of the project – a new exploration toolset – may on the long run lead to discoveries of mineralizations and consequently boosted the raw material self-sufficiency, industrial competitiveness, outside investments and new jobs especially to remote areas of EU.

Partnership

• Geologian tutkimuskeskus, GTK (Geological Survey of Finland), Finland (Lead Partner)
• Ab Scandinavian Geopool Ltd, Finland
• Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, BRGM (The French geological survey), France
• Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, GEUS, Denmark
• Spinverse Innovation Management Oy, Finland
• Technische Universitaet Wien (Vienna University of Technology), Austria
• Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. VTT), Finland

For more information, please visit the official website of the project.

Project duration: 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2021

Objective

Sintered Nd-Fe-B-type permanent magnets (PM) are essential components of electrical machines that require a high energy product/volume ratio for weight reduction and better reliability. However, to compensate for the decrease in magnets coercivity with temperature, substitution of Nd by heavy rare earths (HRE) is widely used at industrial scale. This approach seriously increases the dependence on these critical raw materials in the EU magnet industry. One limitation of the current production technology is the lack of strip-casted ribbons with optimized microstructure and homogeneity for fine-grained Nd-Fe-B. The proposed optimization of the strip-cast process can boost the development of fine-grained Nd-Fe-B PM’s and allows the extension of the conventional processes beyond their current limits.

The solution (technology)

The goal of the UPGRADE project is to design and achieve a fine microstructure in the strip-cast ribbons that leads to high coercive Nd-Fe-B PM’s. Once the microstructure and homogeneity of the ribbons will be optimized for one or several compositions, the up-scaling and transfer of the strip-casting conditions will be performed. Preliminary results from the UpMagnet fast track project in 2017 have demonstrated the potential coercivity increase achievable with fine-grained Nd-Fe-B magnets based on optimized ribbons. The complete value chain of the magnet industry will be present in the international consortium including research institutes and alloys supplier, a magnet manufacturer and an end-user for assessment.

Partnership

• Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), France (Lead Partner)
• Centro Ricerche Fiat S.C.p.A. (CRF – C.R.F.), Italy
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. (Fraunhofer), Germany
• Less Common Metals, United Kingdom
• Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany
• Vacuumschmelze, Germany

01 January 2018 – 31 March 2020

Objective

Platinum Group Metals (PGM) – platinum, palladium, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, and iridium – have unique physical and chemical characteristics which make them indispensable to modern technology and industry. However, their markets are subject to many variations because, most of the time, they are not mined for themselves since they occur together in nature alongside nickel and copper and are produced as co-products. Their catalytic properties – particularly those of platinum, palladium, and rhodium – make them ideally suited to many applications aimed at countering the effects of air pollution and limiting the production of greenhouse gases. Another distinctive characteristic of PGMs is that they are recyclable.

EU and USA are not top producers of PGMs and they are dependent on countries such as South Africa and Russia for their supply.

The project aims at delivering a joint research and innovation agenda between USA and Europe to improve the platinum group metal supply from primary and secondary resources.

The solution (technology)

This will be achieved by analyzing PGM value chains, identifying bottlenecks limiting their production and proposing joint R&D&I tracks to fix them. The work will be based on knowledge already existing with the Partners or being generated within EU or USA actions or projects.

Partnership

• French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), France (Lead partner)
• IBC Advanced Technologies, Inc, USA
• National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece
• Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. (VTT), Finland

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Objective

The innovation supported by VALOMAG concerns a technology enabling to dismantle EoL applications, for the extraction of permanent magnets and their recycling in short loop processes based on the direct reuse of hard ferromagnetic alloys for bonded magnets and sintered magnets manufacturing. VALOMAG project answers the need of the waste management sector to treat waste with magnets as no solution exists currently due to technological problems.

The solution (technology)

Neodymium-Iron-Boron (NdFeB) based permanent magnets are indispensable for today’s technology-driven society, and this dependence is likely to increase. They are used in a variety of applications such as robotic systems and home appliances; they are also essential for clean energy applications such as hybrid/electric vehicles and wind turbines. As REE such as Nd and Dy have a substantial risk and a high commercial value, the recycling of EoL products as NeFeB magnets is a promising route to alleviate the supply risk. Moreover, Life Cycle Assessment studies (LCAs) have already been performed for NdFeB magnets produced from virgin raw materials and for magnets produced using a magnet-to-magnet recycling process. The results show that the recycling process has significantly less environmental impact than production from raw materials with about 31% to 55% compared to the virgin magnet production. The VALOMAG project proposes to supply a technical solution for permanent magnet disassembly of EOL applications like hard disc, electric vehicles and wind turbine and to assess two short loop recycling technologies (HD/HDDR and stripcasting) for high and medium quality magnets with a third alternative route using hydrometallurgical processes for low quality magnets.  The project combines different key players who bring together their expertise to develop a new value proposal which answers the need of the permanent magnets market.

Partnership

• SUEZ Groupe SAS (Lead Partner), France
• The French Geological Survey, France
• Centre de Recherches Métallurgiques asbl (CRM Group), Belgium
• French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, France
• Kolektor Group Vodenje in upravljanje druzb d.o.o., Slovenia
• Leiden University, Netherlands
• Delft University of Technology, Netherlands

Learn more about VALOMAG on the project’s website.