The Resources Innovation Center Leoben at Montanuniversität Leoben is home to the university’s international partnerships in the areas of sustainable science, education and industrialization. Our vision is to make a climate friendly, sustainable future in the raw materials sector.
On 3 June 2025, the new educational project MOSA – short for Montanuni Outdoor Science Activities – was launched. Numerous interested visitors, including pupils from the Leoben district as well as students and staff from the Montanuniversität planted 1,600 plants in carbon-enriched soil along the newly created nature trail next to the university’s research center for hydrogen and carbon.
MOSA stands for practical learning outdoors with all senses. The project brings research from the university directly to the field and demonstrates in an exciting way how resources can be used effectively. Through stations along the new nature trail, students, teachers and the interested public can interactively experience how new technologies, circular economy, biodiversity, carbon applications and renewable resources intertwine.
On the newly created area, the Montanuniversität Leoben enables active understanding of different future scenarios and thus also makes a significant contribution to the implementation of sustainable technologies.
After much fine-tuning, the first edition of MiReBooks in printed form has been printed and is now available. These books will take mining education to a higher level by incorporating VR and AR elements into teaching!
Mariaelena Murphy holds a Master degree in Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, and has worked as a Senior Lecturer at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (NL) for 17 years specialising in cultural competences. Her focus is on developing the RIC Education Competence Center, managing RIC’s portfolio of education projects, and implementing new teaching & learning pathways for the future of T-shaped raw material engineers.
SAFE – Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Experienced focuses on the targeted networking of science and society. The emphasis here is on cooperation, joint design and joint production of knowledge between researchers, industry players, political decision-makers and practitioners. To make this possible, a special framework in the form of aliving lab is being created. A living lab is a freely accessible area where research meets practice and where everyone can explore, experience and actively learn. To this end, an approximately 1.5-hectare site at the Montanuniversität Leoben is being converted into a communication and science location for sustainable technologies related to soil health, diversity and the sustainable use of resources. This location is particularly well suited due to its proximity to the university’s newly established research centre for hydrogen and carbon.
In addition, the site offers direct access to heavily frequented cycling and hiking trails and is located within the city limits of Leoben.
The SAFE Living Lab shall include:
SAFE is intended to serve as a regional flagship project for direct exchange and, through the implementation of a living lab, act as a bridge between research, industry and society. With these goals in mind, SAFE aims to make a significant contribution to:
The key to success lies in engaging, inspiring, and actively involving a broad range of people, mobilizing them to participate in content-driven participatory and educational processes. These individuals will, in turn, act as multipliers, spreading knowledge and competences within their own communities.
Project Partners:
This research project is funded in whole or in part by the “Connecting Minds” initiative of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) 10.55776/CMW2614425.
