perator pouring molten metal in automatic casting line in foundr
news2
new_start5
previous arrow
next arrow

News

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.

PRO-SLO – PhD School on Social Licence to Operate

Europe needs more experts to master the complex issues of a Social License to Operate (#SLO) as currently many raw materials projects are severely delayed due to severe opposition from communities.

Coordinated by the RIC Leoben Education team, an alliance of experts on the topic of SLO from research, universities and industry will design and deliver a tailored PhD school, based around challenges provided by the industry, facilitated by innovative teaching/learning methods.
The first edition of the PhD school is underway, split into three phases:
1. Online Phase (Virtual Week: 3rd to 7th February 2025)
2. Case Study Phase (10th February to 4th April 2025)
3. Onsite School (23rd to 27th June 2025, Vareš, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Further details under: https://www.proslo.eu/

New RIC management: Robert Obenaus-Emler

We are very glad that Robert Obenaus-Emler was officially appointed Head of the Resources Innovation Center by the Rectorate of the Montanuniversität Leoben on 14 March 2024.

At the same time, the RIC Leoben was confirmed as one of the seven “Clusters of Excellence” at the research centre of the University.

PROMISE – Master program for Sustainable Mineral Processing

PROMISE is an international 24 months Joint Master’s program in Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering, aiming at advancing the mineral processing sector into a sustainable future. Up to 84 Erasmus Mundus scholarships can be awarded, divided between four intakes.

Applications for the third intake are possible until 31st December 2023.

This program is ideally suited for Bachelors of mineral processing, mining, metallurgical and chemical engineering and other closely related studies.
The program offers full scholarship of EUR 1400 per month, additionally it covers all tuition fees at the four partner universities: University of Oulu (Finland), Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria), University of Zagreb (Croatia) and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Chile).

More information on https://www.master-promise.eu/
Apply here: https://www.master-promise.eu/how-to-apply/

Project EdUp awarded

RIC is glad to support the ERASMUS+ project “EdUp”, coordinated by TU Bergakademie Freiberg, that aims at providing digital course contents and curricula upscaling opportunities for Ukrainian universities during the currently challenging period.

With EdUp, we will increase the already existing support activities that allow Ukrainian HEIs to keep up their study programmes by incorporating digital courses from partners and integrating them into their teaching. The project will offer a digital platform with new courses that cover already identified needs and increase the opportunities for UA partners to create digital courses. Within this project, RIC / Montanuniversität Leoben will provide a selection of education courses during the next two years.

Project “PRO-SLO” awarded

We are excited that EIT RawMaterials selected our project proposal “PRO-SLO” for funding! The aim of the winter school project “PRO-SLO – building PROfessional SLO Competence” is to bridge the gap between Raw Materials operations and economic, social and ethical discourse, and will provide the raw materials industry with future leaders who are competent and confident to master the complex processes of obtaining and maintaining a Social Licence to Operate (SLO) for their raw materials projects. We are very proud to coordinate a highly motivated expert consortium and look forward to collaborating over the coming three years and beyond!

Hydrogen and Carbon

Hydrogen is inevitably linked to carbon as a valuable material in to the research activities in the field of methane pyrolysis. About 120 scientists from 23 different organizational units of the Montanuniversität Leoben are currently working on topics within the Strategic Core Research Area (SCoRe A+ Hydrogen and Carbon). Networking of individual scientists from different disciplines creates fruitful collaborations. The recent H2C – Symposium gathered a wide audience to learn from 20 PhD candidates working on sustainable energy projects.
More info here.

ReFiberValue

Separation of small-size mixed plastic fractions and processing into high-quality material

Duration: 10/2022 – 09/2024

The Resources Innovation Center is happy to announce a newcomer among its Climate Actions projects!
ReFibreValue is a FFG-funded cooperation project between Montanuniversität Leoben, the international technology group ANDRITZ and technology start-up Circulyzer GmbH is successfully approaching the first year of activities. As a manufacturing by-product, Andritz AG generates significant amounts of textile production waste in form of polyamides (PA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) which cannot be separated in an economically and ecologically sensible way using the processes currently available. One possible separation technology is offered by Circulyzer GmbH. The ReFibreValue project aims to develop and optimise a separation process that would produce partial fractions that are as pure as possible. ReFibreValue thanks to the collaboration among the industrial partners and MUL’s RIC, the chairs of Polymer Processing (KV), Materials Science and Testing of Polymers (WPK), Waste Recycling Technology and Waste Management (AVAW), Processing and Refinement (AuV) is enabling the processing of valuable waste and its return to the material cycle, making a valuable contribution to European circular economy agenda.
First results are promising for the innovative separation of textile production waste offered by Circulyzer GmbH. in form of polyamides (PA) from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) The tests were performed on manufacturing waste generated by ANDRITZ AG as a by-product.

The project aims to achieve sustainability and climate protection and contributes to SDG13 climate protection measures, SDG12 ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns and, SDG9 industry, innovation and infrastructure and subordinately the research project also contributes to SDG8 (increase in resource efficiency). RIC assumes the role of project management, communication, networking and further development for future funding within the consortia.

Discover more on the podcast & video here