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.

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.

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.

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.

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.