GEORIS will transfer in the RIS region a novel geopolymerization technology that utilises industrial waste to produce construction materials and a catalytic powder, all exhibiting significant financial, performance and environmental advantages (~25-30% reduction in costs & CO2 emissions). GEORIS targets public authorities responsible for infrastructure development, construction companies, and industrial waste providers, comprising 11 partners from 4 countries (BE, GR, SI, RS).

The project implements a novel pathway for accelerating innovation through Ecosystem Integration Labs (EILs) which will be developed by each participating university company or institution. The EILs will be tailored based on each university’s HEInnovate needs assessment and following the spirit of EU Smart Specialization S3P Mining Industry strategy, which will govern the focus of the envisioned innovation and business projects, Talent Labs and Open Innovation and Training Programs. As a result, this will motivate each higher education institution (HEI) involved to commit to their Innovation Vision Action Plans (IVAP).

Seven universities (Spain, Romania, Germany, Finland, Greece, Ukraine), two RTO - Competence Centers (Serbia, Slovenia) and one SME - strategic and innovation consulting service (Poland), will jointly implement six HEI initiative actions. Also, four other associated HEIs linked to the consortium and other associated partners will collaborate with the HEI4S3-RM knowledge triangle. This enables a realistic Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP) to reinforce the innovation capacity building of Europe, aiming for long-term sustainability and circular economy approaches.

The HiPAM-project transfers high purity stainless steel side streams to N2 alloyed Austenitic Ni-Free Stainless Steel (ANFSS) powder products. ANFSS-alloys are one of the most promising candidates for consumer and health care products and a substitute for costly Ti alloys and CRM-containing Co-Cr as well as an answer to the highly fluctuating price of Ni. Outokumpu will start powder production on their new plant and powder is validated in different downstream processes connected to case studies

Li-ion batteries are a key technology for e-mobility. To supply the rapidly growing battery industry with sustainable and high-quality carbon additives, the low carbon footprint Acetylene Black of Orion and the resource-efficient Carbon Nanotubes of Arkema will be upscaled, combined and commercialized. The materials will be evaluated on lab and pilot scale by the Fraunhofer, Aalto and Customcells. An LCA will be performed by University Bordeaux.

To meet the goals of the European Green Deal’s Circular Economy Action Plan and support the implementation of the new Batteries Regulation, a holistic battery LCA database will be created to enable more reliable and relevant Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies. The database will be commercialized by ecoinvent in cooperation with a new start-up (created within the project), which will offer unique benchmarking, certification and consulting services as well as new tools and datasets.

The IMAGINE-III project is the extension of the successful legacy KAVA IMAGINE-I and IMAGINE-II projects. A consortium of five top universities and 1 industry partner, established 8 double master degree tracks that deliver the EIT-Labelled Sustainable Materials (SUMA) Master Programme. IMAGINE-III will expand the consortium to RIS countries, add digitalization into curricula and strengthen the SUMA innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.

There is a strong need to implement Rare-Earths recycling technologies in large-scale systems. The INSPIRES project aims at recovering and supplying Rare-Earths within the EU through radical innovations in the recycling of permanent magnets, focusing on one of the most readily available sources: home appliances. INSPIRES will optimize methods at industrial scale for sustainable extraction and recycling and use of recycled magnets in new motors.

The project will establish courses that train industry professionals, making them “material risk managers” capable to identify and take action to mitigate their specific company supply risks. The trainings will be connected to a newly established conference on criticality, which will be the internationally leading platform to discuss global trends in criticality and share industry practices. A special focus will be on REEs in magnetic motors.