Project duration: 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2021

Objective

The solution (technology)

Establishing a prototype for a drilling-related database, that can serve the community with information on drilling-related equipment, drilling test sites, and services offered by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to the larger drilling community. Preparation for a KIC upscaling project, that considers the integration and testing of latest drilling technologies, through the establishment of a specified test site.

Partnership

• Uppsala Universitet (Uppsala University), Sweden (Lead Partner)
• Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB, Sweden
• CBI Betonginstitutet AB, Sweden
• Geologian tutkimuskeskus, GTK (Geological Survey of Finland), Finland
• Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden
• Lund University, Sweden
• Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB (LKAB), Sweden
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Holding AB, Sweden
• Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany

For more information, please visit the official website of the project.

Project duration: 3 January 2020 – 31 December 2022

Objective

The solution (technology)

The training course is a one-year higher technical education and training programme (IV EQF) aimed at obtaining a qualification of high technical level. The course will equip 20 European young people (preferably 18-24 year old) with the necessary tools and skills in sustainable development, circular economy transition, management and implementation of intervention, impact evaluation methods, total quality management for environmental sustainability, as well as soft skills such as entrepreneurship and digital literacy.

Partnership

• ART-ER S. Cons. p a., Italy (Lead Partner)
• CENTOFORM srl, Italy
• Foundation Myclimate, Switzerland
• Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
• University of Oulu, Finland

For more information, please visit the project web page.

Objective

The solution (technology)

The consortium proposes a ‘fast track’ pilot action involving the integration of 4 existing Master programs into an EIT label compatible pilot master program on which the partners can build a joint final Master program. The Master programs will focus on materials processing and recycling, circular (eco)design, life cycle engineering and circular economy design, materials substitution, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and innovation and will mandatorily involve studies in two different institutions and internship in a company.

Partnership

• Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (Grenoble Institute of Technology, INP), France
• Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium
• Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
• Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany
• UMICORE NV, Belgium
• Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca (University of Milano- Bicocca), Italy
• Università degli Studi di Trento, Italy

Project duration: 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2024

Objective

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 9 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 strenghten the SUMA innovation and entrepreneurship initiatives.

The solution (technology)

The EIT-Labelled Sustainable Materials Master Programme (hereinafter referred to as SUMA) educates high-level European and international engineering and science students in the field of materials science and engineering. SUMA covers all aspects of the materials life cycle addressing materials development and substitution, materials selection, materials production and transformation, materials degradation, materials recycling across the material families both for structural and functional materials. SUMA is also integrates innovation & entrepreneurship education into the curriculum in order to equip SUMA students with the necessary, in-demand I&E knowledge, skills, attitudes and competences enabling students to contextualize and apply materials science disciplinary knowledge to real industrial and societal challenges. This has been acknowledged and certified by EIT as SUMA successfully obtained the EIT-Label in 2016, a quality seal awarded to Master and PhD programmes which demonstrate excellence in I&E education.

Each SUMA student spends a full year in two of the partner universities and an internship in an affiliated company obtaining international as well as a first professional experience in the materials field . SUMA is also embedded in EIT RawMaterials and is interacting with and is supported by the EIT RawMaterials Academy, ensuring it benefits from joint-programme and central coordination but also profiting from central support with marketing, branding, recruitment and provision of entrepreneurial opportunities as part of the EIT RawMaterials Master School. SUMA participates actively in the EIT Label Meetings organized by the EIT RM educational officers to establish the EIT RM Academy community and drives through its unique educational approach and content the emergence of a European innovation oriented generation of young engineers and scientists in the field of sustainable materials.

The SUMA master thus contributes to a solid EIT RawMaterials educational backbone at the Master level by forming innovators and entrepreneurs for the raw materials industry with a deep expertise in sustainable materials and processes. The IMAGINE-project enters into a third phase: building on the excellent results and lessons learned, it will intensify its activities and add new components to respond to the growing needs of the raw materials sector.

The SUMA master programmes started in September 2016 their operational phase and further development were the focus of IMAGINE-II. Nine study tracks were created and activated with multiple entry and exit university configurations, each track combining the strengths of two of the partner universities and focusing on a different, distinct specialization. The aim of the IMAGINE-III project is to successfully continue the implementation of the educational programmes. New components are added in order to strengthen the existing curricula, keep SUMA relevant and pioneering, and align SUMA with the strategic direction of EIT RawMaterials and its Academy. These new focal points that will be introduced are (1) increasing skills in digitalization by connecting data sciences with materials engineering and thereby leveraging materials knowledge to improve processes and products (2) further solidifying I&E knowledge, skills and attitude by strengthening start-up creation in the SUMA student population; (3) extending SUMA’s geographical scope by adding two new partners from a RIS country: AGH University of Science and Technology (AGH, Poland, Krakow) and the Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM, Spain). Atlantic Copper Chair organised by UPM will give lectures in metallurgy to bachelor students – potential SUMA candidates. Finally, SUMA will continuously creating opportunities for the students to participate in networking and matchmaking events with EIT RawMaterials partner companies, linking students (job seekers) with industry (talent seekers).

Partnership

• AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland
• Atlantic Copper S.L.U., Spain
• Grenoble Institute of Technology, INP, France
• Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
• UMICORE NV, Belgium
• Technical University of Madrid, Spain
• University of Milano- Bicocca, Italy
• University of Trento, Italy
• Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KU Leuven) (Lead Partner), Belgium

For more information, please visit the project website.

Project duration: 1 January 2018 – 31 December 2020

Objective

The solution (technology)

MAGINE-II will deliver highly competitive SUMA (sustainable materials) Master programmes that form professionals with a deep expertise in sustainable materials and processes and with an innovation and entrepreneurial mind-set.

Partnership

• Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium (Lead Partner)
• Hub Innovazione Trentino – Fondazione (HIT), Italy
• Institut polytechnique de Grenoble (Grenoble Institute of Technology, INP), France
• Montanuniversität Leoben, Austria
• Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), Germany
• Umicore NV, Belgium
• Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca (University of Milano- Bicocca), Italy
• Università degli Studi di Trento, Italy

For more information, please visit the project web page.

Project duration: 4 January 2016 – 31 December 2018

Objective

The core idea of iMine is to enable access to production mines and labs for KAVA and KCA activities in primary extraction that will benefit from easy access to this Network of Infrastructure. The focus is on high TRL (Technology Readiness Level) activities. The coordinator will synchronize the test and demonstration capacities in question and will ensure effective communication between EIT RawMaterials partners.

The solution (technology)

iMine is a network of test and demo sites in Europe for projects that want to test their applications or other project results in real mine environments or lab environments. iMine is a three-year project, lasting from 2016 to 2018. During that time, iMine will establish the test and demo site network and infrastructure. During 2018 it will be decided how iMine will continue and in what form.

Partnership

• RISE SICS AB, Sweden (Lead Partner)
• Agnico Eagle Finland Oy, Finland
• Atlas Copco Rock Drills AB, Sweden
• Boliden Mineral AB, Sweden
• DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Germany
• KGHM Polska Miedz Spólka Akcyjna, Poland
• Lapland University of applied sciences, Finland
• Luleå University of Technology (LTU), Sweden
• Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara AB, LKAB, Sweden
• Mobilaris, Sweden
• Outokumpu Ferrochrome, Finland
• RISE Research Institutes of Sweden Holding AB, Sweden
• RISE SICS Västerås AB, Sweden
• Sandvik AB, Sweden
• Sandvik SRP AB, Sweden

For more information please visit the official website of the iMine project.

Project duration: 1 January 2018 – 31 March 2020

Objective

Bosnia&Herzegovina, Kosovo, Ukraine lack geological expertise due to political and economic reasons. Significant need for training on geological exploration methodologies for defining greenfield potential and use of laboratory equipment is present in these countries.

Due to post-war economy crises, the insecure financial sector as well as regular problems of countries in the transition process, the complete raw materials value chain was broken and has never been put into an order. Geological institutions, such as geological surveys, universities are focusing and trying to improve current situation but without significant help and expertise of European scientific partners, they will never be able to catch up with 21st-century exploration standards.

That is why this project’s objective is to reach out to those countries by boosting the development of the geological sector, through a university-based educational and experts’ supported training program.

The project’s overall goal is to help these countries to rebuild the broken chain of education and training and benefit from the innovations already existing in the European Union and ongoing developments.

The solution (technology)

KIC partners will transfer their knowledge and experience to targeted countries, presenting an innovative approach to exploration and tools developed within own projects.

The project provides for transferring of up-to-date knowledge of modern concepts and methods to these countries through the comprehensive and suitable program for the students of the Faculty of Geosciences- University of Mitrovica, and also employees of the Geological Survey of the Republic of Kosovo, the Geological Survey of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Geological Survey of Ukraine.

The proposed project will have a long-term and significant effects, as well trained and educated geological experts will be able to provide all necessary expertise and services to investors, seeking for stable and secure raw material sources in Europe.

Partnership

• AGH University of Science and Technology, Poland (Lead Partner)
• Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), Finland
• Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS), Slovenia
• Pluto Investment AG, Switzerland
• PROXIS Sp. z o.o., Poland
• University of Tromso, Norway

Project duration: 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2021

Objective

Mining stockpiles/tailings are strategic to recover Critical Raw Materials. Technological gaps exist. INCO-Piles will define best practices and promote technologies transfer by Round Tables with International experts. The target is to select game-changing techniques in minerals retreatment from stockpiles in MED/ESEE RIS area. Environmental and market issues will be assessed. Results will valorise innovations for future upscaling (TRL>5).

The solution (technology)

Mining of stones and metals has been a human activity since pre-historic times. Mining activity has been present everywhere in Europe, although nowadays majority of mining sites have been closed. This does not mean that the resources have been completed depleted. Ancient mining could not benefit of the most modern extraction and processing techniques and has left significant amounts of residuals currently present in the territory in forms of semi-artificial hills, lakes and ponds. Some of them are completely stable and never reacted with the environment, while some others (especially those coming from metal mining) had significantly modified the environment where they have been stocked. Today, in Europe the resources of metals have been reduced, while the use has increased. The consequence of this is an increase of imports, to provide raw materials to high technology industries. Moreover, many materials had grown their importance due to Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and battery needs.
The Project INCO-Piles aims to understand the value of some particular types of metal stockpiles and tailings in Balkans and Mediterranean Countries. It is a Cooperation Project, with partners belonging to Universities, Research Centres and Industries and the involvement of international experts from active mining countries.
The Consortium will analyse the most updated and innovative techniques, methods and processes to recover raw materials, critical for European industries, from stockpiles and tailings. A specific case study will be selected, where to perform preliminary analysis for understanding the economic value of a possible re-mining in the future. Especially for the case study, environmental aspects will be addressed as well, with the intention to gain critical raw materials and, at the same time, to improve the environmental quality of the ancient mining area.
The project lasts two years and will be comprised by 4 general assemblies and 2 round tables, where experts (both European and International) will have the possibility to meet and exchange their knowledge.

Partnership

• Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna, Italy (Lead partner)
• Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l’Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Italy
• Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, BRGM (The French geological survey), France
• MYTILINEOS S.A., Greece
• National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece
• Orano Mining, France
• Technische Universiteit Delft (Delft University of Technology), the Netherlands
• Université de Bordeaux, France
• Université de Lorraine (UL), France

Project duration: 1 January 2019 – 31 December 2020

Objective

PGMs are some of the rarest & hardest to produce elements on earth with a very high supply risk. Nonetheless, they are among the most important for the EU and its automotive industry.

The solution (technology)

INNOCAT aims to diffuse an innovation in the domain of recycling and substitution of Platinum group metals (PGMs) in automotive catalysts, and aspires to build up communities in RIS-eligible countries, namely ecosystems of innovation, to stimulate the emergence of start-ups and foster further business development, based on the commercialisation potential of this technology. The benefits of this approach will be effectively demonstrated in the 7 participating RIS countries, by retrofitting heavy duty vehicles owned or operated by territorial public authorities. Many of these vehicles are aged, with very high CO2 emissions; consequently, the project key-beneficiaries will harvest both economic and environmental benefits. The project actively pursues the contribution of public authorities and policy-makers, businesses and business enablers (active in areas such as automotive maintenance, waste management and secondary raw resources), as well as academic, training, research, and innovation-oriented organisations.

Partnership

• Monolithos Ltd, Greece (Lead Partner)
• Cambra Oficial de Comerc, Indústria i Serveis de Manresa, Spain
• Consell general de Cambres de Comerc Industria i Navegacio de Catalunya (General Council of the Catalan Chambers of Commerce), Spain
• Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain
• Hellenic Society for the Promotion of Research and Development Methodologies (PROMEA), Greece
• International Center for Advanced Materials and raw materials of Castilla y León – ICAMCyL, Spain
• Mineral and Energy Economy Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (MEERI), Poland
• Regional Development Agency of the Pardubice Region, Czech Republic
• Stara Zagora Regional Economic Development Agency (SZREDA), Bulgaria
• Technical University of Kosice, Slovakia
• University of Miskolc, Hungary
• Wcycle, Slovenia
• Zavod za gradbenistvo Slovenije, ZAG (Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute), Slovenia