EIT RawMaterials Projects

The ambitious vision of EIT RawMaterials is realised by the creation of a structured collaboration within the Knowledge Triangle, which is the basis of the EIT model.

Call for Innovation & Education Projects is now open!

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EIT RawMaterials Projects Timeline

391 Projects
Project Portfolio
Innovation Themes
Innovation Areas/Lighthouses

Sustainable Mining

BGE2: BetterGeoEdu 2.0: Teaching Raw Materials to Primary Schools with Gamification

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2021

Objective

BetterGeoEdu will develop teaching material using BetterGeo – a modification of the immensely popular game Minecraft.

The solution (technology)

Teaching material will be tailored for primary schools, and cover innovation themes of the EIT RawMaterials like mining, processing and recycling, complete with a train-the-trainer programme for teachers. BetterGeoEdu brings a unique and innovative way of teaching raw materials to primary schools using a game known and loved by millions.

Partnership

  • Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), Sweden (Lead Partner)
  • Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Italy
  • Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS), Slovenia
  • Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
  • Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
  • Trinity College Dublin – The Provost, Fellows, Foundation Scholars, and the other members of Board, of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, Ireland
  • Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, UPM (Technical University of Madrid), Spain
  • Université de Liège, Belgium

For more information, please visit the project website.

Recycling

BioFlex: Flexible Biometallurgy Infrastructure and Expertise network

Project duration: 1 January 2016– 31 December 2018

BioFlex is a network of infrastructure (NoI) bringing together biometallurgy related infrastructure.

Objective

BioFlex aims to bring together partners with infrastructure and expertise in biometallurgy. Biometallurgy includes bioleaching of metals from ores and waste, biosorption of metals from liquid streams, bioprecipitation of metals and bio-electrochemistry of metals. BioFlex operates within the ZeroWaste cluster of Networks of Infrastructure.

The solution (technology)

There is a need for a one-stop-shop for infrastructure and expertise related to different types of metallurgy, including biometallurgy.

Partnership

For more information, please check the project website.

Exploration

BioLeach: Innovative Bio-treatment of RM

Project duration: 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2022

Objective

High economic investments into the import of raw materials which are significant for further industrial utilization increase the importance of local sources, which after proper technical adjustments can represent an environmental and financially attractive alternative. However, their lower quality and lack of technologies improving their industrial value prefer serious financial investments into the import of higher quality materials. These materials include metallic raw materials (mRMs) – extremely important sources of CRM, REE and metals, but also non-metallic raw materials (nRMs) widely used in several industrial sections such as paper, ceramic, glass, chemical industry and agriculture.

The solution (technology)

The first aim of the project is to create an impact on the local ecosystem by and along the development and improvement of the technology and especially by engaging the relevant local players. Technology will be applied to local deposits to obtain RMs appropriate for industrial utilisation. While currently used technologies are very expensive and environmentally not acceptable, low cost and ecological method of bioleaching are suggested. Bioleaching is an alternative way of improving deposits via the activity of bacteria, which induce changes of chemical and structural features of rocks and minerals. The challenge of the project is to configure and improve this effective, economical and innovative method for specific local sources. The second aim is related to greater utilisation of local sources. Effective bacteria can be used industrially for treatment of mRMs to extract CRM, REE and metals, but also for treatment of nRMs, whose commercial value is decreased by impurities limiting the area of their application. Therefore the further aim of this project is to test and evaluate local minerals as new potential sources, whose increased industrial value was obtained by bioleaching.

Partnership

  • Technical University of Košice, Slovakia (Lead Partner)
  • Alma Mater Studiorum – Università di Bologna, Italy
  • Bay Zoltan Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research, Hungary
  • Caobar, S.A., Spain
  • ekolive s.r.o., Slovakia
  • G.U.B. Ingenieur AG, Germany
  • Gomez Pardo Foundation, Spain
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf e.V. (HZDR), Germany
  • Najpi a.s., Slovakia
  • Politechnika Wroclawska, Poland
  • Sifucel – Sílicas, S.A., Portugal
  • Trinity Dublin College, Ireland
  • Universidad Politecnica de Madrid,  Spain
  • Universidade Nova de Lisboa – Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT NOVA), Portugal
  • Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca, Italy
  • Zeocem, a.s., Slovakia

BizMet: Competetive Sustainable Business from Metal Recycling

Objective

Circular economy demands new approaches along the value chain and in business models of production. SMEs often have not the capacity to keep track with developments and align their strategies for the future. BizMet bridges the gap between SMEs and universities. Our goal is that 40 SMEs will benefit from BizMet by using new competences to innovate and shape new circular economy business models.

The solution (technology)

Reducing primary resources and increasing waste hills started making a difference to the standpoint of humanity and created a new trend known as Sustainable Future. Transformation towards sustainability is a significant issue that should be addressed not only by governments, but also companies as well as profit and non-profit organizations. Creating a sustainable future model is the common denominator of humanity.

BizMet project initiates a platform to bring together all regional actors within European countries to accelerate the transformation into a circular economy for a sustainable future. It provides an interactive education, networking and knowledge sharing opportunities in the field of metal recycling especially for SMEs, industrial experts, professionals, researchers/scientists, and graduate students. The innovative educational approach of BizMet integrates lifelong education and PhD education to train SMEs to create sustainable business models, to develop environmental processes and to release competitive products and services. The project establishes an ecosystem to promote the metal, mining and recycling industrials into a circular economy by improving the cooperation between SMEs and universities and the understanding of sectoral needs, and introducing cutting edge technologies.

Partnership

For more information, please visit the project web page.

Recycling

BloW-uP: Balkans Waste to Products: transfer of NoI model to Balkan area: de-siloing new waste-derived raw materials and devel-oping new applications

Objective

BloW-uP RIS project intends to transfer the EIT RawMaterials NoI model to ESEE countries, supporting the de-siloing and development of new applications for a better waste and raw materials management. The scope is to create the basis for helping (local) companies and entrepreneurs together with Academia and Research (the knowledge triangle) in the development of new solutions/products/processes based on waste derived secondary raw materials. Blow-uP is also an outreach of FREECATS NoI and will exploit its asset and expertise widening the impact to new products and markets.

The solution (technology)

Nanomaterials possess a great potential or have already found applications in several KETs and commercial product and found a large number of applications in different fields. BloW-UP solutions: Additives for lubricants made from mining sludges already reached TRL3. In BloW-uP TRL will be increased up to 5-6 at least. Carbon based materials for FCs/Electrolyzers and Metal-Air batteries are expensive while starting from secondary raw materials derived from wastes would reduce the cost.

Other applications (to be assessed) include:

  • iron oxides utilized in air pollution abatement, wastewater treatment, in syngas and hydrogen production;
  • carbon-based materials as adsorption materials for waste water treatment, and support materials for catalysts.

Partnership

Learn more about the BloW-uP project on blowupris.istm.cnr.it

Sustainable Mining

BlueHarvesting: Hydraulic Collector for Polymetallic Nodules from the Deepsea

Project duration: 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2022

Objective

Deep sea mining is one of the new fields of industry that can aid in the supply of critical raw materials. Vast amounts of polymetallic nodules are found on the floor of the Clarion Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean at typical water depths of 3 to 6 kilometers, containing appreciable amounts of cobalt, nickel and copper. To date, subsea harvesting equipment (collectors) is known to generate large plumes of suspended particles which will have serious impacts on seabed life in the areas surrounding the mine sites and potentially for some kilometers distant to the mine sites.

The solution (technology)

This project will focus on the development and improvement of the collector reducing its environmental impact and optimizing its production rate and efficiency. It will build on the development of the collector from the Blue Nodules (H2020) project through improved design to reduce the volume of sediment that will be brought into suspension and hence the volume of the plume. Extensive simulations on the fluid dynamics of the collector as a whole, both inlet, processing and outlet of the water flow entraining nodules and sediment, will be analyzed and validated with lab and field tests. These results will be used to optimize the design of the system as a whole to limit the production and dispersion of suspended sediment.

Partnership

  • Technische Universiteit Delft (Delft University of Technology), Netherlands (Lead Partner)
  • Aarhus University, Denmark
  • Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas M.P., CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), Spain
  • IHC Mining B.V., Netherlands
  • Jacobs University Bremen, Germany
  • Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen, RWTH Aachen, Germany
  • Royal IHC Group, Netherlands
  • Seascape Consultants Ltd, United Kingdom
  • Stichting Nederlandse Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek Instituten (NIOZ), Netherlands
  • Technische Universiteit Delft (Delft University of Technology), Netherlands
  • Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain

BREAKit: Bringing Research Knowledge to Exploitation: A T-Shape Itinerary Approach

Objective

High level of technical specialisation could limit people’s ability to generate innovations. The project will implement and test an itinerary of learning events and contents, supported by a knowledge and learning platform, to create and train T-shaped innovation champions with the skills to transform new knowledge into a business value proposition through learning by doing methodology, following customer development and lean start-up approach.

The solution (technology)

Knowledge and Technology per se don’t generate value. A proactive and customer oriented attitude together with a business mindset is required to explore and create innovation and new business models.  The project proposes an itinerary to help researchers and other technical profiles to transform knowledge generated in their projects, thesis, etc. into a value proposition for the market. Doing this participants can create new lines of business within their organisation (and thus become an intrapreneur) or create a new companies.

The proposed itinerary is based on lean start-up approach where one of the main activities is to contrast rapidly ideas with potential customers, stakeholders, etc. and to understand their needs. Learning by doing methodology will be used. While working in a project or thesis, participants will acquire knowledge and skills that generate specialists in the raw materials processes and technologies, including the environmental and sustainability aspects. Participants should have at least a project, topic of the thesis, some previous results in their organisation, etc. The project will also be the vehicle to develop transversal skills such as leadership, teamwork, communication, customer development, market orientation and business perspective, and the abilities to ideate and prototype solutions to contrast with industry and therefore to create innovations for the industry and society.

Also online courses related to technical topics in raw material (mining, recycling and materials chain optimization and design of products and services for the circular economy ) and about innovation, intrapreneurship, business models in circular economy, etc. will be available for a broader audience.

A learning and knowledge platform will be customised and available to support the contents, assignments, follow-up, and will facilitate the online interaction of the community of learners.

Another result is the creation of an international community that learns together by sharing experiences and learning by doing. Participants can be graduated researchers or technical people from universities, research and technology organisations or industrial enterprises in the Raw Material sector.

Partnership

  • Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain (Lead Partner)
  • Lappeenranta University of Technology, Finland
  • Mondragon Corporation S. Coop., Spain
  • Mondragon Goi Eskola Politeknikoa (MGEP), Spain
  • Monolithos Ltd, Greece
  • Outotec Oyj, Finland
  • Relight S.R.L., Italy
  • RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Sweden
  • Teknologian tutkimuskeskus VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd. VTT), Finland

For more information, please visit the project website.

BRIEFCASE – Learning the Uses of Minerals Through Non-Conventional Teaching Tools

Objective:

The project is orientated to Wider Society Learning. The specific target audience will be primary school children aged from 6 to 14 years old, and their teachers. It will develop innovative popular science tools and content to explain mining activities and mineral applications to society. Important considerations will be dedicated to the Not In My Backyard concept and mining in equal conditions, as well as to the problem of so-called “blood minerals”.

The solution (technology):

The Project seeks to bring minerals and mining closer to society as a whole. Its ultimate goal is that citizens from an early age know where the mineral products they use in daily life come from, and how our daily purchase decisions affect to the social environment of the people who live in countries with resources exploitation. That it is not possible to live without minerals and without mines but, through example and a friendly approach, communicate that mining is a modern activity and that it has an impact on the society and environment that can be mitigated.

The BRIEFCASE is a novel product that has been used successfully by the Geomining museum and the IGME for ten years. It is distributed in two zones, in one the minerals are located and in another the applications of the same ones: a light bulb with your filament of tungsten, an aluminium tin, toothpaste that contains fluorine, etc. Although the BRIEFCASE is aimed at all ages, the primary focus will be primary school children to teenagers (6-14 years old) and their teachers.

Although the final configuration of the virtual BRIEFCASE and popular contents has not yet been decided, it can be “clicking” on a house or smart city- eg: you click on the car or on the house and a dropdown menu shows wich minerals and elements are included.
The Project will generate practical theoretical contents and a physical and virtual material (online), related with the consequences of the daily use of RM and their exploitation which will be transferred through a disruptive tool, the BRIEFCASE, and will be presented in different areas of Europe through universities and research centres. Once the Project is finished, the material will be available to the academic and educative community, which will be able to continue using it in their workshops and courses in an autonomous way, as well as lend it to teaching centres, congresses, and events that may request it, including training as the workshops will be later collected on the website so that anyone can replicate them.

Partners:

Gomez Pardo Foundation, Spain (Lead Partner)
Coventry University, United Kingdom
Instituto Geológico y Minero de España (IGME – Spanish Geological Survey), Spain
Monolithos Ltd, Greece
Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca (University of Milano- Bicocca), Italy

For more information, please visit the project website.

 

Exploration

BrineRIS: Brines of RIS countries as a source of CRM and energy supply

Project duration: 1.1.2022 – 31.12.2024

Objective

BrineRIS project aims to build RIS countries’ capacity on carbon-neutral critical raw materials (CRM) recovery from geothermal brines. To decrease the dependency of Europe on imported metals for battery production, BrineRIS will identify prospective deposits of brine and test emerging recovery technologies. By developing an interactive platform and investment case study, BrineRIS will attract investors to RIS regions participating in our project.

The solution (technology)

Limited access to critical raw materials (CRM) is the main obstacle to developing the high-tech and battery sectors. Thanks to the striking development of efficient soluble elements recovery technologies, highly mineralised water (brine) is a potential unconventional source of metals. Usually occurring at great depths, under conditions of high pressure and hot temperatures, brines mineralised up to 300-350 g/L may contain economic concentrations of metallic elements, such as CRM from EU 2021 list (Li, Mg, Sr), Na, Ba and others. Exploring non-obvious resources, such as brines, and innovative technologies to ensure sustainable exploitation will increase the feasibility of a secured European supply of battery metals, supporting European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) vision “to secure access to critical and strategic raw materials, advanced materials, and processing know-how for EU Industrial Ecosystems”. As shown by, e.g. British company Cornish Lithium and Australian-German Vulcan Energy Group, building a new eco-friendly company that provides the raw materials for the green industrial revolution based on thermal brines is possible.


The technology needed for the recovery of metallic elements from brines is under development in a number of KAVA projects e.g., EuGeLi or Morecovery. However, the location of brines, with reliable and stable sources of metals, is still an open question. Our BrineRIS project will locate brines in Europe suitable for economically feasible metal recovery and test the emerging recovery technologies in the lab. Focusing on RIS countries of the Iberian Peninsula and Visegrad Group, in which thermal brines resources are proven, the BrineRIS project will deliver verified information on brines enriched in Li and other valuable elements. Special attention will be paid to existing mine water inflows and operating geothermal wells. The use of the available thermal energy on brines enables a regenerative supply of buildings with heat and cold. Compared to the supply with fossil fuels, at least 60 % of CO2 emissions are saved (Kagel & Gawell, 2005). Crucially, BrineRIS interactive platform will be developed based on the structure of the European Lithium Institute’s (eLi) Li – projects database. The data gathered on available brine deposits, current projects, legal matters, and technological assessment for metal recovery and geothermal energy production serve as the foreground for future projects and European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) investment cases. Good practice, experience, and know-how will be shared by testing emerging recovery technologies under development by non-RIS partners (UGent, GTK, TUBAF) in RIS – countries. Thus, BrineRIS will foster innovation and entrepreneurship, result in job opportunities and build the RM capacity of RIS partner countries.

Partners:

  • Politechnika Wroclawska (Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, WUST), Poland (Lead Partner)
  • Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas M.P., CSIC (Spanish National Research Council), Spain
  • Czech Geological Survey, Czech Republic
  • European Lithium Institute eLi, Belgium
  • Geologian tutkimuskeskus, GTK (Geological Survey of Finland), Finland
  • Ghent University, Belgium
  • KGHM Polska Miedz Spólka Akcyjna, Poland
  • Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Poland
  • Redstone Exploration Services Sp. z o.o., Poland
  • Rotaqua KFT, Hungary
  • State geological institute of Dionýz Štúr, Slovakia
  • Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany
  • University of Miskolc, Hungary

Find out more on the official project website.