VEOLIA Open Innovation Challenge
Too Many Rare Earth Magnets End Up Lost as Waste
Rare earth elements are essential for electric mobility, renewable energy technologies, consumer electronics, and modern appliances. Yet, despite their strategic importance, a significant share of these valuable materials is still lost at the end of product life due to low concentrations, complex product designs, and the difficulty of identifying and separating rare earth-containing components.
To address this challenge, Veolia, in partnership with EIT RawMaterials, is launching an Open Innovation Challenge to identify breakthrough solutions that can transform the recovery of rare earth elements from end-of-life (EoL) waste streams.
Open to Innovators Worldwide at TRL 6+
We invite startups, SMEs, universities, and research and technology organizations (RTOs) globally to propose innovative technologies and approaches (from a TRL 6 onwards) that can improve the efficiency, scalability, and economic viability of rare earth-containing magnetsof rare earth recovery, helping Europe strengthen its circular economy and secure a sustainable supply of critical raw materials.
Veolia: A Global Leader in Waste Management
Veolia is a global leader in ecological transformation, delivering essential services in water, waste, and energy management across 56 countries. Its waste management division treats more than 64 million tonnes of waste each year through a network of 845 treatment facilities worldwide. In Angers, France, Veolia operates the country’s largest Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) sorting and recovery site, processing around 80,000 tonnes of household and commercial electronic waste annually.
A key part of the Angers facility is Triade Électronique, Veolia’s specialized subsidiary dedicated to the collection, sorting, dismantling, and recovery of WEEE. Triade Électronique combines advanced automated sorting technologies with manual dismantling processes to maximize the recovery of valuable materials (including metals, plastics, and electronic components) while ensuring the safe handling of hazardous substances.
What Veolia Is Looking For
Veolia is seeking disruptive or market-ready technologies covering upstream recovery activities, including:
- Collection and identification of rare earth-containing magnets rare earth-containing components
- Traceability Platform
- Sensor based and characterization technologies to identify equipments containing rare earth-containing magnets rare earth magnet in EoL waste stream - Extraction and dismantling of permanent magnets
- Effective Demagnetization technologies of magnets
- Advanced sorting and separation technologies
- Pre-processing solutions that improve downstream rare earth recovery
Which Waste Streams Does Your Solution Address?
Your solution should address at least one of these end-of-life waste streams:
electric vehicles, electric scooters, e-bikes and related systems
wind turbines and renewable energy equipment
electrical and electronic equipment
refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers and similar products
Candidates will have two months to submit their applications and finalists will get the chance to present their ideas to top industry professionals at Veolia.
What You’ll Gain
a global leader in waste management and a potential pilot partner, customer, or technology adopter.
through Veolia, EIT RawMaterials, and their extensive industry networks.
with industrial leaders, investors, researchers, and innovation experts by gaining access to EIT RawMaterials events
to strengthen the technical and commercial value of your solution.
Key Dates
The winner will start the collaboration with Veolia shortly after the final.
Sign up with your email address and a password.
The form is short and covers three areas:
- Your company
- Your technology or solution
- How it addresses Veolia’s challenge areas