The Partners of the RIS Briefcase Project will consolidate the self-sustainable BRIEFCASE network around regional challenges such as the low ratio of recycling, the lack of specialized workforce and experts in the minerals sectors and the low acceptance of mining operations. The network will be extended to all RIS areas and commercialize the Briefcase services.

Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) are often illegally extracted by untransparent Artisanal Small-Scale Mining (ASM) in least-developed countries. RMR develops, markets and implements all-inclusive product kits comprising hardware (sensor kits for automatic material weighting and shipping barrels tracking), software (for blockchain-based tracking/certification) and training services designed for exporters to enable and evidence responsible and legal ASM operations feeding in EU mineral supply chains.

SCALE-Up demonstrates a commercialization-ready flowsheet for producing Sc-products from Bauxite Residue. Leaching and separation takes place as integrated process within the MYTILINEOS’s alumina plant, extracting from 850,000t/y of Bauxite Residue, 67t/y of crude Sc concentrate. This concentrate is refined at MEAB into 22t/y of pure Sc2O3 and returned to MYTILINEOS’ Al smelter for the production of 733t/y of Al-Sc2% master alloy.

ScaVanger will ensure the steady supply of 100 % Sc, and 2 % Nb and V for the EU to become leader in growing markets (SOFC, aeronautics, HEX, HSLA). Recoverable resources are contained in liquid acid waste from TiO2 production (1.5 million t/y in EU), but landfilled at 6 M€/100 kt/y. The ScaVanger hydrometallurgical technologies will produce ScF3 (~5 t/y Sc), Nb-concentrate (92 t/y Nb), V-compounds (170 t/y V). The first plant will be operated by ScaVanger company at an EU TiO2 producer site and can then be adapted to 5 EU chlorine TiO2 production sites.

The challenge this project addresses is the increase in performance of lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) while at the same time reducing the specific production costs of LiBs through a novel anode active material. The material was developed in close coordination with German automotive manufacturers and has reached TRL5. The consortium intends to transfer the process to industrial scale reaching TRL7 with a project duration of 3 years.

SEC4TD proposes an integrated end-to-end (E2E) solution composed of three hardware and software innovative products for mining operators and service providers that will enable multi-scale multi-platform data collection and visualization, events prediction, effective information management and data traceability. SEC4TD will connect the PHYSICAL and DIGITAL world to take advantage of the recent ICT innovations to support safety and sustainability concepts for tailings dam monitoring.

The SINReM programme continues to recruit excellent students and produce successful “resource engineers” who will reshape the raw materials sector into a circular economy. In this extension project we will:

- intensify recruitment of European students,

- establish an alumni community,

- strengthen and expand the non-academic partner network,

- integrate Deep Tech as well as Green and Digital transitions into the curriculum.

The EU copper sector needs lifelong learning courses to address challenges such as sustainability and new technological & market developments. SkiComCu aims to bridge this gap by providing skills for sustainable practices, communication, problem solving, and new technologies. The course (including off- & online curriculum and XR tools) is directed to current & future staff in the roles of Foremen & Operational Staff, Professionals & Office Staff, Managers & Senior Professionals and HR personnel

Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) presents unique opportunities to create, repair and extend life of large industrial equipment. In-situ microstructure control methodologies will be implemented in WAAM to improve the lifetime of industrial components. Inline multiparametric non-destructive testing will allow real-time defect detection during WAAM. One spin-off company, two case studies and two functional prototypes will be delivered.

SMILE’s contextual focus is smart manufacturing − the hallmark of the next industrial revolution, representing a cornerstone for economic competitiveness and growth in order to create jobs and improve the quality of life of citizens. SMILE’s overall objective is to accelerate institutional change and increase higher education institutions’ innovation and entrepreneurship capacities as well as their integration into regional innovation ecosystems.

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SOLSA-DEM’UP aims at bringing to market the first automated expert system for on-line drill cores and samples analysis. The concept is based on an integrated drilling coupled with an automated scanner and phase identification software, piloting various analytical instruments and interpreting the results in real time. This will revolutionize exploration campaigns and identification of soil, subsoil and related raw materials, by reducing time and costs, and facilitating environmental monitoring.

STILLMETAL project develops a sustainable process to convert foundries slag into ferroalloys. It solves the problem of slag landfill disposal, transforming a cost into a revenue and increasing competiveness and independence from raw materials supply. Know-how belongs to OPIGEO (SME specialized in slag valorisation), to UNIPD and ZAG, whereas ITALGHISA (SME ferrolloys leading supplier) possesses trade secret. ZEROCENTO will be the 1st customer building the industrial plant (TRL9).

SUMMED-PV aims to educate students on raw material key aspects related to Photovoltaic(PV) technology and to all the devices, circuits and systems allowing to maximise PV array performance and to integrate it with the grid, including electronics, storage and electrical equipment.The three one-week-long editions will be hosted in Milano,Salerno and Köthen,with a estimated audience of 60-80 attendees each; they will be challenge- based with a strong commitment from industries and research centers.

Built on existing strong minerals exploration MSc programmes, the project provides a joint education with add-on entrepreneurship skills. Based on a gap analysis, mineral resources exploration, focusing on field activities and sustainability performance does not exist in the portfolio of EIT-Labelled master programmes. The consortium led by and having RIS-universities will involve non-academic partners in program development and implementation.

UMANE (Universities for huMAN-centered Entrepreneurship) project is aimed at fostering institutional change and developing innovative services and methodology to support human-centered innovation and entrepreneurship within the universities of the consortium. UMANE will allow HEIs to undertake the necessary institutional change adopting a methodology that mimics the two-stage process of human-centered innovation: exploration and prototyping.

Exploration refers to the first phase of the project, the exposure to the human-centered approach that will help HEIs to adopt a new approach and reframe existing activities. Prototyping refers to the second phase of the project, the re-design phase that will allow HEIs to enhance the entrepreneurial mindset, programs and activities, organizational mechanisms, and structures.

More specifically, the consortium’s main objectives are to:

- develop and share a human-centered methodology to innovation and entrepreneurship within the consortium;

- re-design and implement innovation and entrepreneurial educational programs based on human-centered methodology;

- develop support tools, mechanisms, and services in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship within each HEI that can lead to a mindset change;

- develop a set of KPIs able to measure those competencies generated and the new mindset activated by the initiative, both at personal and organizational level;

- develop impact-driven international partnerships between HEIs, triangle partners, and business;

- strengthen collaborations with local nodes of EIT KICs, such as Raw Material, Manufacturing, and develop new linkages with other EIT KICs, such as Digital, Climate, and InnoEnergy KICs.

The V0T3D project aims to robotize the RM sector by introducing modern methods and innovative solutions for the optimization of underground ventilation with the main aim of reducing electricity consumption by 1,5%. V0T3D will try to get into a USD 326 million market with a CAGR of 4.3% during the forecast period from 2019-2024 and gain a 5% market share by exploiting emerging technologies to reduce costs (up to 2 mln € annually) for key mining operations and provide a safer working environment.

The Project Description and the annual Business Plan, approved in the BlueBook system, apply

VALORE will upscale a novel process for the recovery of vanadium and gallium as by-products from an alumina refinery. The core of the innovation is a patented ion-exchange material showing superior selectivity and stability. Pilot scale production will be done in an industrial environment generating a yearly outcome of 80 ton vanadium and 50 ton gallium when successfully deployed at industrial scale at the refinery of MYTILINEOS.

WEEE-NET will improve the capacities of WEEE value chains in the RIS region to recover CRMs by transferring innovative technological solutions and know-how to key players in the region. Partners will: a) set up a novel WEEE recycling business ecosystem in SI, HU, GR, PL, CZ, RO, b) infuse it with an innovative mixture of gravitational, hydro and bio metallurgical technologies, and c) stimulate business development and R&D by directly providing support services to RIS market players.