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Dump truck at a copper mine in Latin America
Industrial belt conveyor. Earth moving equipment.
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MIN-GUIDE

Mineral Policy Guide

The MIN-GUIDE project, financed by Horizon 2020, started in February 2016. It aims to support the safe and sustainable supply of mineral resources in Europe by developing a new online source that presents guidelines and “good practice” examples for mineral policymakers. The main objectives of the project are: (1) the preparation of guidelines for the EU and EU Member States’ raw materials policy, (2) the facilitation of political decision-making through the presentation and possible transferability of the good practice examples, and (3) a network for innovation-friendly policy frameworks for raw materials. MIN-GUIDE will analyze the relevant policy in Europe and identify innovative “good practice” examples. These findings form the basis for the most important result of the project, an online “Minerals Policy Guide”.

Duration: 01/2018 – 12/2020

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (RIC Leoben), Vienna University of Economics and Business, University of Westminster, Luleå University of Technology, National Technical University of Athens, Instituto Geologico Y Minero De Espana, University Of Aveiro, Gopa-Cartermill, University of Zagreb;

MIREU

Mining and Metallurgy Regions of EU

MIREU aims to establish a network of mining and metallurgy regions across Europe. As mining projects are carried out at regional and local levels, regions are key actors in ensuring a continued supply of mineral raw materials to the European economy. The MIREU project will bring together mining and metallurgy regions from across Europe to work together on improving the conditions for sustainable access and supply of raw materials in the EU.
The MIREU consortium is comprised of 30 partners of which 17 are regions from all around Europe.
The project outcomes will be gathered in an online MIREU Knowledge Portal, that will be freely accessible during the lifetime of the project. To guarantee the continuation of the network, a Council of Mining and Metallurgy European Regions is established to carry on the activities.

Duration: 01/2018 – 04/2021

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (RIC Leoben), AGH Krakow, Business Joensuu, CCDR, Cornwall Council, Energy Management Agency of Maramures, ERRIN, Exploration and Mining Division of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, NOVA University of Lisbon, GKZ Freiberg, French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, General Directorate of Energy and Mine-Spain, et.al.

OpTaRec

Optimising the Tantalum Recycling Process through Conditioning of Raw Materials, Process Automation and Material Logistics

The project goals of OpTaRec are resource efficiency, improved cost efficiency and product quality in the processing of secondary raw materials. Specifically, a testing process for the tantalum used to recovery. The gained know-how is then consequently published in scientific publications, also a guide is prepared and made available for third parties to implement.

Duration: 04/2017 – 12/2020

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy), Clausthal University of Technology, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen), TANIOBIS GmbH, TANIOBIS Smelting GmbH & Co.KG

PM-Life

LifeLong Learning in Powder Metallurgy

Duration: 01/2018 – 07/2021

PM Life is a training on Powder Metallurgy organised by the European Powder Metallurgy Association (EPMA) and some of its affiliates. During five weeks, trainees will learn about powder metallurgy and its sectors (powder production, press & sinter, metal injection moulding, hot isostatic pressing, additive manufacturing). Each week will take place in a different European country (Sweden, France, Spain, UK, Germany) and will consist in basic and advanced courses on specialised PM topics and horizontal topics including materials science and engineering and entrepreneurship, case studies in factories or universities and a plant visit. Following the training weeks, a three-week internship will be proposed to the participants either in a factory or in a university, to practice what they have learned during the course in an actual working environment. At the end of the training, an EPMA certificate will be granted after evaluation by an exam. Expected participants hold at least a Master’s degree and have some knowledge on materials science. They may already work in the PM field or wish to enter this field.

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Industrial Liaison Department), Chalmers University of Technology, ERAMET IDeas, European Powder Metallurgy Association, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Höganäs, Hub Innovazione Trentino, Grenoble Institute of Technology, Royal Institute of Technology, Manufacturing Technology Centre, Sandvik AB, Universidad Carlos III of Madrid, Università degli Studi di Trento

RAISE

Raw Materials Students Internships

Duration: 07/2019 – 12/2022

RAISE gives access to secondary school students at internships within research laboratories/companies operating in the Raw Materials sector. RAISE tackles a carrier guidance demand originated within the schools, making youngsters aware of the career opportunities in the field, offering them tools allowing an informed university studies engagement into Raw Materials related disciplines. Motivated pupils access two/three week internships focused on exploration, circular economy, substitution of critical raw materials and recycling.
This project is offering pupils a first but immersive direct contact with the raw materials sector, giving them a flavor of its real world in order to facilitate their informed and committed engagement into studies of raw materials related disciplines.

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (RIC Leoben), Alma Mater Studiorum – Universita di Bologna, Bay Zoltan Nonprofit Ltd. for Applied Research, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), ERION, Kungliga Tekniska Högskolan, KTH (Royal Institute of Technology), TREEE Srl, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (UPM), Università degli Studi di Milano – Bicocca

rESEErvE

Mineral potential of the ESEE region

The RESEERVE project extends the geographical reach of EIT RawMaterials to the ESEE region, help disseminate the knowledge and know-how of the EIT Community, facilitate developing new markets for new technologies, create opportunities for start-ups and SMEs and contribute to new job opportunities. The main outcome of the project will be a register of available primary and secondary mineral resources data of the West Balkan region.
The RESEERVE project targets the following 6 countries of the West Balkan, which are of particular strategic interest for the European raw materials sector: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. The West Balkan region is considered to be one of the future potential mineral supply areas of Europe, but access to relevant data for investors is still limited in the region.

Duration: 04/2018 – 11/2021

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy), Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM), Croatian Geological Survey (HGI-CGS) – Hrvatski geološki institute, DMT GmbH & Co. KG, Geological Survey of Albania, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Geological Survey of Montenegro (GSM), Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS), Geological Survey of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Geological Survey of the Republic of Srpska, National Technical University of Athens – NTUA, University of Belgrade – Faculty of Mining & Geology (UNIBG-RGF), University of Zagreb

REEBAUX

Prospects of REE recovery from bauxite and bauxite residue in the ESEE region

Rare earth elements (REE) are import critical raw material in a large number of modern industrial applications but almost exclusively extracted outside of Europe, thus leaving the continent completely dependent on imports. Europe-based REE production shall cover a significant amount of the domestic need and reduce business hazard due to a volatile world market. Bauxite and bauxite residue have been for a long time considered a viable resource of REE. With a large number of bauxite deposits in the ESEE region and a long tradition of aluminum processing industry, which has left also a significant amount of bauxite residue behind, there is a respectable perspective for development of a new REE resource for Europe once geological, mining and technological aspect are well elaborated. The project focuses on extensive data collection on bauxite deposits and bauxite residue accuMontanuniversität Leobenations in the ESEE region and their REE abundances in light of future prospects for REE production to improve European REE supply. Also targeting an increase of innovation capacity in regional bauxite resources management for future developments in REE production, the project consortium will involve students in the execution of the project tasks, and offer several educational events for students and professionals from the R&D and industrial sector.

Duration: 01/2018 – 12/2020

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Petroleum Geology), Croatian Geological Survey, DMT, Eötvös Loránd University Budapest, Geological Survey of Montenegro, University of Miskolc, University of Zagreb, Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute;

RIS-RECOVER

Regional innovation scheme for zero waste extraction of critical raw materials

South East Europe, including Macedonia, is rich in deposits of secondary raw materials in the form of mining tailings of polymetallic ores and heaps from the metallurgical industry and represent a relatively undiscovered potential for the European raw materials market sector.
The innovative approach of the RIS-RECOVER project is based on the zero waste paradigm, which means that once valuable raw materials like CRM and metals are extracted, the residues can be recycled for the construction sector.
This will lead to development of an encouraging environment for boosting entrepreneurship in the region.
The output of the project will be a regional innovation scheme based on validated and fact-based data including a study of the potential economic, technological, organisational (legislative), environmental and social impacts of applying zero waste extraction of valuable materials in Macedonia.

Duration: 01/2018 – 03/2021

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Nonferrous Metallurgy), Civil Engineering Institute Macedonia, Geological Survey of Slovenia (GeoZS), Goce Delcev University Štip, Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek NV (VITO), Zavod za gradbenistvo Slovenije (Slovenian National Building and Civil Engineering Institute)

SafeDeepMining

Advanced Rock Engineering Education for Deep Mines

Duration: 01/2018 – 03/2021

The continuing education programme “Advanced Rock Engineering for Deep Mines” addresses the shortage of rock engineering personnel in the European mining industry. The emphasis of the education programme is on the application of rock engineering principles in the mining industry in order to make deep mining operations safer and more efficient. It provides the participants with the basic knowledge and skills required to address and solve practical rock engineering problems.
This education programme is directed at mines, governmental organizations responsible for supervision of mining activities, consulting companies in the field of mining, having to deal with rock pressure problems, and personnel employed in the mining industry. The programme comprises eight compulsory and four elective modules.

Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Lead), GEODATA Ziviltechnikergesellschaft mbH, KGHM Cuprum Ltd. Research & Development Centre, Silesian University of Technology, SANIRE South African National Institute of Rock Engineering, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF), TU Clausthal, University of Queensland, Veitsch-Radex GmbH & Co KG, Wolfram Bergbau und Hütten AG, Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik Wien

SafeMine

PhD-Programme Health and Safety in Mining

Four leading European mining universities are working closely together with industrial partners in order to develop a PhD-Program with a focus on increasing mine safety, using the most up to date research data and basing their studies on industry-driven, real scenarios and projects.
The project aims to develop a holistic, timely and resilient PhD-Program in Health and Safety in Mining and to train a cadre of qualified professionals who can lead the future of health and safety work in the European mining industry based on a modern view of how an attractive and safe mine should be designed and organised. To achieve this objective SafeMine provides a program for qualified leaders of tomorrow’s safety and health work in mining. In the first stage, covered by this application, we intend to develop and implement a curriculum and management respective administration structure and to finally kick-off the proposed PhD-Program in Health and Safety in Mining.

Duration: 01/2018 – 03/2020

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Subsurface Engineering), Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt, Boliden Mineral, TU Clausthal, Dräger Safety, Luleå University of Technology, RWTH Aachen, Veitsch-Radex;

SLIM

Selective Low Impact Mining Solution

The general objective of the SLIM project is to develop a cost-effective and sustainable selective low-impact mining solution. This solution will be based on non-linear rock mass fragmentation by blasting models, airborne particulate matter, vibration affections and nitrate leaching mitigation actions for exploitation of small mineral deposits (including those with chemically complex ore-forming phases). This will positively affect the relevant mining value chain through a new generation of explosives and an advanced automatic blast design software based on improved rock mass characterisation and fragmentation models for optimum fragmentation and minimum rock damage and far-field vibrations. The development of SLIM will consequently bring an economic cost-effective exploitation of European mineral resources, with a reduced environmental impact and social acceptance. The feasibility technical, environmental and economic aspects of the entire approaches will be integrated to offer a real business solution. The final goal will be to ensure the economic viability of the entire SLIM process.

Duration: 11/2016 – 10/2020

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, 3GSM, Benito Arno E Hijos Sa, Bureau De Recherches Geologiques Et Minieres,
VA Erzberg, Investornet-Gate2growth, Luleå University of Technology, Maxamcorp International, Minpol GmbH, Minera De Orgiva Sl, Technische Universität Graz, Zabala Innovation Consulting;

SUSMAGPRO

Sustainable recovery, recycling and reuse of rare earth magnets in a circular economy

Permanent magnets based on rare earths such as neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB, also with dysprosium) are used in a variety of high-tech industries such as automotive, aerospace, e-mobility, wind power and consumer goods. However, in recent years, the supply of these materials has come under considerable pressure, and neodymium and dysprosium are now considered to be critical materials with a high supply risk. In addition, Europe imports far more NdFeB magnets than it produces (> 1,000 tons per year), putting its industry in a weak position
The aim of SUSMAGPRO is to identify, separate, process and reuse NdFeB magnets on a pilot scale across Europe. In this way, a circular business model in the sense of the circular economy is developed. Instead of dumping the critical resources or exporting NdFeB-containing waste to other parts of the world, SUSMAGPRO will use the latest technologies to extract the elements from the magnetic scrap and turn the metals back into new products for the European over a shortened cycle Integrate the market. The focus is on applications in automotive rotors, water pumps, loudspeakers and wind turbines.

Duration: 06/2019 – 05/2023

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Department Mineral Resources Engineering) + 20 project partners from nine European countries;

UNDROMEDA

Underground Robotic System for Monitoring, Evaluation and Detection Applications

The UNDROMEDA project aims to develop a robotic underground measurement system for autonomous 3D mapping and monitoring. The system is based on a mobile wheel-driven platform which additionally carries a flying drone to approach particularly unknown, difficult to access or hazardous areas in underground mines and further underground environments, like tunnels or sewer systems. For this it is absolutely necessary to integrate advanced positioning, navigation and mapping sensors such as laser scanning, radar, inertial technology as well as innovative algorithms such as laser SLAM, IPS optical navigation and virtual reality control.

Duration: 01/2018 – 12/2021

Partner: Montanuniversität Leoben (Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics), Boliden Mineral AB, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V., DMT GmbH & Co. KG, LTU Business AB, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen), Technische Hochschule Nürnberg Georg Simon Ohm, Technische Universität Bergakademie Freiberg (TUBAF)

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