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.

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MiReBooks Available

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!

Research Center on Hydrogen and Carbon Officially Opened

The new research center for hydrogen and carbon in Leoben ceremoniously opened its doors on October 17, 2024.
Rector Peter Moser and Vice-Rector Helmut Antrekowitsch emphasized the key role of the new research center for the future development of energy technologies and the importance of cooperation between science and industry. Advanced process technologies are being developed here that will make it possible to provide large quantities of hydrogen for industry. At the same time, the entire value-added cycle of hydrogen and carbon – from production, transportation and storage through to application – is being researched.
Another focus is on researching the sustainable use of carbon in the areas of agriculture, construction and high-tech applications, such as hydrogen storage.

Manuel Ortega, MSc

Manuel joined RIC Leoben in January 2019. He successfully manages the MiReBooks project, “Mixed Reality Handbooks for Mining Education”, a 14 partner pan-European education project, with a budget of 3 Mio EUR. The project is funded by EIT RawMaterials Academy and tackles current needs and gaps in mining education regarding digitalisation of contents and concepts.
Manuel obtained an MSc in mining engineering from León Mining University, Spain. After graduating from university he worked in the oil and gas service industry for many years.
He opted for Leoben because he felt like it was time to return to his mining roots.
Manuel is currently preparing his PhD in the area of a digital teaching platform.

At a glance

MiReBooks Available

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!

SAFE Living Lab

SAFE – Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Explained 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 a living 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:

  • Research & Teaching in the Soil Health Learning Garden: Aligned with a holistic learning approach, this initiative focuses on carbon applications in agriculture, emphasizing its role in resilience and humus formation.
  • Forest of the Future: Adapting to climate change necessitates a transformation of local forestry and forest management. A section of the Living Lab will be designed as a “Forest of the Future” to illustrate these changes and the associated management strategies.
  • Biodiversity: Measures like 3D soil boxes, biodiversity hotspots and deadwood hedges will visually demonstrate biodiversity’s importance to sustainable agriculture and forestry.
  • Education Path: The Education Path serves as the connecting element between the different thematic areas of the SAFE Living Lab. It acts as a guide, reference point, and starting/ending location for educational activities.
  • Recreational areas within the SAFE Living Lab are designed to provide visitors with spaces for relaxation and sensory engagement, while also promoting sustainable resource use.

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.