NRE ElectRA project will develop and commercialize innovative, remote-controlled, electric-powered equipment for mechanized production of strategic metals from Ultra-Low mining Profiles (0.9-1.7m). In 27 months, 3 narrow reef mining machines (NRE Fleet; Dozer-TRL7; Drill Rig-TRL7; Support Rig-TRL6) conducting drilling, excavating, and supporting will be brought to TRL 8. Results of continuous on-site testing will be used for development of components, risk assessment and customer support.

PARSIVAL aims to solve the issue of EoL photovoltaic (PV) panels in Apulia (IT) and in Extremadura (ES) regions by studying the use of PV refurbishment&recycling technologies in these areas, and to create a value chain for silicon from PV recycling by studying three applications for recovered PV cells that contain mainly Silicon but also aluminum paste and silicon nitride. PARSIVAL will create a long-lasting network and help training future professionals for the RIS countries development.

The main objective of the project “PhD BalticTeach” is to train future talents for industry via organizing three PhD schools by providing 6 ECTS credits per education event. The project will identify the doctoral students in the Baltic States and RIS regions of Italy, Slovenia, and Slovakia and help them with commercialization and upscaling aspects of PhD students research development into the business ideas in the field of sustainable materials.

PoSAddive aims to upscale the Additive Manufacturing (AM) process of metal materials using a novel powder application method for efficient, loss-less use of raw materials. In this new technology which has been filed for patent (PCT/EP2020/053507 and EP22158106) we are going to replace the disadvantages of the powder bed with the revolutionary idea of a powder sheet. The technology will be demonstrated at TRL7 using automotive and mobility-related demonstrator parts by CRF and Gemmate.

Europe needs experts to master the complex issues of a Social Licence to Operate (SLO), as currently many raw materials projects are severely delayed due to opposition from communities.

European engineering education pays little attention to SLO.

To bridge this gap, an alliance of SLO experts from research, universities and industry will design and deliver a tailored PhD school. It will be based around challenges provided by the industry, facilitated by innovative teaching/learning methods.

The rapid identification of critical compounds is crucial for an adequate sorting and inherently the adapted recycling that will enable Circular Economy. RAMSES-4-CE innovates optical spectroscopy-based multi-sensor systems for the recycling industry. We focus on (1) developing a Raman sensor, (2) its integration in a LiF-HSI system (EIT inSPECtor), (3) advanced multi-source data fusion + machine learning for rapid data integration.

The project will develop a flowsheet and pilot for sustainable processing of rare earth elements, which are critical raw materials for the Green Deal (permanent magnets in wind turbines and EV's). The Fen Carbonatite Complex is likely Europe’s largest rare earths deposit and could potentially cover a large share of European demand. The consortium holds extensive experience in beneficiation and hydrometallurgy, and will complete an industrial pilot by 2025 and be in commercial production by 2028.

The RaVeN is a new two-year M.Sc. degree scheme. Taking into account the wide geographical spectrum, diversification and needs of social inclusion, the capacity of higher education in the RIS and ESEE region is being built. Its main strength is its innovative approach to teaching through an active learning path by integrating the KTI along the value chain through the involvement of non-academic experts, mobility exchanges, industry and start-ups.

It is time to include advanced technologies and tools for transforming the raw materials sector, by using Earth Observation. The RawMatCop Alliance project aims to develop a comprehensive learning schedule to promote the use of Copernicus data and Remote Sensing techniques, contributing a safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources. The learning programme covers the whole mining cycle from exploration to exploitation and post-mining. The targets are students, industry and researchers.

RECOPP aims to transition the environmentally and economically sustainable recovery of added-value raw materials Bismuth (Bi) and Antimony (Sb) and removal and inertisation of Arsenic (As) from the residues and by-products generated during the pyrometallurgical production of Copper (Cu), based on RECOPP fast track proven technologies (TRL 5), to a TRL of 7(pilot scale) to validate this technological solution at such operational environment.

Europe aims to reduce the dependence on CRM importations to guarantee the deployment of low-carbon technologies. The REECOVERY solution will allow MLF to produce valuable (Zn, Cu) and CRM (REE, Co) from challenging metal influenced acid water, thanks to an innovative R&R treatment train, commercialized by AQUA, that will use chemicals considered as waste/by-products from other industries as an example of industrial symbiosis and circular economy.

ReLi-ion will establish and expand a ‘cradle-to-cradle’ Li-ion battery collection & recycling value chain in East and South-East Europe with the aim to: a) transfer an innovative technological solution that will demonstrate the feasibility to optimise Li and Co recovery from mixed NMC/LFP treatment, increasing the recycling capacity of the 3 ReLi-ion recyclers by ~10%, and b) secure >60% market share of LFP and NMC end-of-life waste market in project countries.

ReLiFe aims to pave the way for a 66 ktn treatment capacity recycling plant for recovering lithium carbonate (3.6 ktn /year) , iron phosphate (12.6 ktn /year), - graphite (9 ktn /year) from end-of-life and scrap LFP batteries utilizing a process with 30% lower cost and 90% lower CO2 emission compared to current recycling processes deploying thermal pretreatment. ReLiFe will supply 1.5% of the EU Li demand and cover SUNLIGHT raw material requirements for battery cells manufacturing.

The Printed Circuit Boards (PCB) contain significant amounts of recoverable metals but its recycling presents some issues because of the epoxy contents.

The proposal aims to validate a technology for the epoxy separation and valorisation from the PCBs. The technology will facilitate the RM & CRM recovery in the recycling furnaces of copper smelters and WEEE recyclers, increasing the recycling rates in EU.

We propose the Reflux Flotation Cell (RFC) technology for mineral processing companies, with ROI in 3 - 4 years. Within the project, it is planned to commercialise the technology as a new product of FLSmidth for copper and iron ore. The RFC requires 30 % less capex and 20 % less opex compared to the existing flotation technologies. The new design allows higher throughputs, a broader particle size distribution and recovery of finer particles.

European industry generates 1.3 million tonnes of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Cupola Furnace (CF) dust annually, both considered hazardous waste, which could be an alternative source of valuable metals essential for low carbon industry. The project aims to build capacity in RIS region by active inclusion of higher education students in development of feasible recovery technology that generates minimal waste discharge and improve environmental and social impacts.

RIS-INCOME project aims to develop and commercialize a digital tool for the monitoring and management of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria and normative compliance in the mining sector. The tool combines all the requirements stated by the new Directives of the European Union and provides the non-financial and sustainability reports, addressing the inadequate quantity and quality of sustainability challenges of the mining sector, which affects the Social License to Operate (SLO)

Project aims to increase students’ entrepreneurship/business skills, broaden University-Business Cooperation in RIS region, support EIT-labelled MSc-s and boost employment of the RM graduates leveraging regional brain-drain. 21 matchmaking events will be organized, 367 students will conduct internship in 300 hosting-organizations, 640 individuals will complete an online training and 25-40 interns will be employed at the hosting-organizations.