On 6th March 2020 the 27th meeting of the Alliance of Sustainable Universities Austria took place at the WU Vienna. RIC Leoben was represented by Anna Meyer, responsible for the Alliance at MUL. She presented RIC’s recent activities and plans on the topic of sustainability at Montanuniversität Leoben. The meeting provided the frame for a lively exchange of ideas and initiatives from alliance members and a fruitful discussion about the universities’ responsibility and role as a pioneer in the sustainability agenda. A presentation of the Paris Lodron Universities’ Green WG Challenges (https://uni-salzburg.ac.at/index.php?id=209998), which provides students with challenges on the topic of living a sustainable live ended the meeting on a positive note.
How to increase Austria’s future perspectives through a new raw material strategy?
On 4th March 2020 the Working Group on Raw Materials, an association of Austrian NGOs, invited relevant stakeholders and the public to discuss the new raw materials strategy. Last year the Austrian government decided on the drafting of an “integrated Austrian raw materials strategy”. The present strategy is mainly based on the security of supply of the Austrian economy. However, the new and integrated strategy should include ecological and social aspects as well as use circular economy as a guiding framework. The planned renewal of the strategy will be done through a participative process, which is highly welcomed by the NGOs. To start the dialogue, the Group invited representatives from regions all over the world in order to hear their experiences concerning regional raw material exploitation and use as well as the connected consequences. The event ended with a discussion on the podium on the question of the next necessary political steps for a new integrated raw material strategy.
The KAVA project Innovation Incubator: Potential for Local Ecosystem Inno-Centres in ESEE Region has opened a call for 2 RIS Task Partners. More information and conditions are available on the call text.
The call was announced on 11th of February 2020 and the application form (RIS Task Partner Application Form) must be submitted to ina-maria.wegscheider@unileoben.ac.at by 5th of March 2020, 23:59 CET.
The Expert Forum on digitalization in the Raw Materials Sector, organised by EIT RawMaterials with Montanunversität Leoben and supported by KGHM Cuprum, gathered over 100 stakeholders, from policymakers, industry, research and higher education partners to start-up entrepreneurs and students, to discuss the latest digital trends in the sector. We see digitalisation as a key enabler in the transition to sustainable development. Data and smart digital solutions are essential to optimise and re-invent processes along the entire value chain, as well as act as a link and conduit with all stakeholders, from industry to NGO, from university to wider society.
The fourth edition of the EU “Raw Materials Week” took place from Monday 18 to Friday 22 November 2019, in Brussels.
It builds up on a series of events organised by the European Commission addressing the latest news on raw materials in the EU.
It was a unique opportunity for the raw materials community to discuss and exchange on all relevant issues: policy, technology, international cooperation, framework conditions, knowledge base etc.
Click Read More to watch the video of the 2019 Raw Materials Week
Are you an expert? Then shape the future of your field of expertise and become a certified trainer for the EIT innovation community “RawMaterials”! Get your ideas off the ground and infuse the industry with your innovations. If you already are a lecturer or trainer or you have valuable knowledge that needs to be taught to a wider audience of industry representatives or researchers, we provide the framework for your teaching ideas and make you part of our innovation community. We need your ideas for the courses of tomorrow! In our 2nd call we invite you to provide your training ideas on the focus topics of „Sustainable Minerals“ and „Metal Processing“! Your ideas for other topics for short courses are also very welcome. -Register here
The European project MIREU aims to establish a network of mining and metallurgy regions across Europe, that will help the regions to share knowledge and experiences when facing the challenge to ensure a sustained and sustainable supply of mineral raw materials to the EU.
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.
For more information visit the MIREU website.
We would like to inform about a call for a RIS Task partner in the project ESEE Education Initiative.
From its very start educational activities have been a major concern of the EIT. The EIT has always underlined the role of high and entrepreneurial skills as drivers of innovation. A basic assumption underpinning the educational activities of the EIT is that human capital development is at the heart of approaches to fostering growth and creating jobs. Therefore, addressing these overarching goals using education as a toll an ESEE Education strategy has been created that focuses on education and capacity building in the ESEE region.
The program integrates education, business, wider society and any other potential innovation stakeholder through developing and deploying innovative pilot programs lead by local universities in the RIS region. The program shall involve local industry and SMEs and transfer best practices to the region from other KICs or regions of Europe. The overall goal is to establish a system of programs maintaining and supporting EIT RM RIS Action Line II activities by closing the gaps in terms of educational excellence in EIT RIS-eligible countries and regions, taking the proposing and coordinating initiative – and initiate knowledge transfer from KIC members from non-EIT RIS-eligible countries towards those and increasing visibility of and awareness about the EIT.
Non-KIC member organisations in RIS countries can be involved as Third Parties (so called “RIS Task partners”) in RIS projects. RIS Task partners in ESEE Education Initiative may be any legal entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina with teaching activity in a field at least one below:
1. Exploration and raw materials resource assessment
2. Mining in challenging environments
3. Increased resource efficiency in mineral and metallurgical processes
4. Recycling and material chain optimisation for End-of-Life products
5. Substitution of critical and toxic materials in products and for optimised performance
6. Design of products and services for the circular economy
The call was announced on 15th of February, 2019 and applications (RIS Task Partners Application Form) must be submitted to anja.meier@unileoben.ac.at by 8th of March, 2019, 23:59 CET.
As part of Regional Center’s (RC) ESEE (East & South East Europe) Strategy Anna Meyer visited the EIT Cross KIC RIS Dialogue Conference in Novi Sad. The event provided the possibility to gather information on all the KICs (Knowledge und Innovation Communities des EIT RawMaterials). Due to the cooperation of EIT RawMaterials, EIT Health, EIT Climate KIC, EIT Digital, EIT InnoEnergy and EIT Food a valuable event was designed that opened EIT’s doors to Serbia.
The EIT Cross KIC RIS Dialogue Conference in Novi Sad can be seen as a direct outcome of the 7th ESEE Dialogue Conference in Belgrad, Serbia on the 16.11.2017 organized by the RC Leoben. On the 7th ESEE DC connections between the provincial secretariat of economy and tourism Vojvodina and EIT RawMaterial staff were established and based on those the foundation was laid to set up an EIT Cross KIC RIS Dialogue Conference in Novi Sad, Serbia on the 27.09.2018. This follow up event further shows a gradual inclusion of Serbia to the EIT RawMaterials as well as the EIT in general and is part of a successful ESEE Strategy of the RC Leoben.
Mr. Lee and Ms. Sun, two delegates from the Economic Development Board Singapore visited Montanuniversitaet Leoben on the 21st September 2018. The aim of the meeting was to establish initial contact and learn about each other’s research and development interests. Vice rector Moser invited representatives of the universities chairs and associated competence centers into the meeting room of the rectorate to meet the EDB delegation. A range of presentations, tailored at the interests of EDB, showed the competencies at Montanuniversitaet Leoben. The following universities chairs and associated competence centers presented themselves and their research activities.
Due to mutual interest and some possibilities to cooperate with each other this initial contact meeting proved successful.
Within the framework of the conference, Montanuniversitaet RIC Leoben organized half a day focusing on “Raw Materials” made in Europe for Europe. These comprised the global consumption of resources of all categories with a future outlook on this development, the extractive industries and their societal acceptance, Europe’s mineral potential, influences of non-European markets on EU raw material’s production, knowledge management on European raw materials supply chains, the renewability of metal resources as well as policy instruments and their influence on innovation in the raw materials sector.
The European raw materials initiative, EUMICON, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism of the Republic of Austria organized the EUMICON 2018 Conference in Vienna from September 26th to 28th, within the scope of the Austrian EU Council Presidency. An international stakeholder group concerned with sustainable Raw Materials supply for society came together and discussed highly relevant topics revolving around the technological revolution which will bring about a whole new range of products and innovative services in the coming decades: Automated cars, SMART technology, Internet of Things. Knowledge exchange revolved around how such developments will have a significant impact on the added value of the extractive industry and its downstream branches as well as the political conditions which will act as a significant driver – or indeed a brakeman. Access to raw materials, circular economy or robust and fair trade with other regions of the world – all of these factors that will shape the future of the European extractive industry and its value added, were up for discussion in this international expert platform.
Was bietet die Teilnahme an EU Projekten?
Netzwerk: Europa-weites Forschungs- und Ausbildungs-Netzwerk
• Zugang zu Forschungs- und Test-Einrichtungen
• Zugang zu Investoren / Industriepartnern
• Zugang zu Innovationspartnern: neue Materialien, Technologie, Prozesstechnik
• Zugang zu Tools und Information: Datenbanken, Ausbildung, Weiterbildung
• Experten: Forscher, Ingenieure
Das Regional Center Leoben des EIT Raw Materials (European Institute of Innovation and Technology) koordiniert und unterstützt Sie dabei als Teil der Montanuniversität Leoben.
Highlights der Agenda:•
• Kurze Einführung EIT Raw Materials – Netzwerk, Strategie und Ziele
• Projekteinblicke in zwei laufende Projekte
• Aus- / Weiterbildungsprojekt
• Industrieprojekt (Upscaling)
•Brainstorming: „Make raw materials a major strength in Europe” – Wie können wir zur dieser Vision beitragen?
•Welche Möglichkeiten ergeben sich für Ihre Forschung/Ihr Unternehmen?
18.10.2018
Bei Fragen melden Sie sich bei Anna Meyer oder Hanno Bertignoll.
Zur besseren Planung bitten wir Sie ihre Teilnahme an Anna Meyer anna.meyer@unileoben.ac.at bekannt zu geben.
Join the 24-hour hackathon, where you‘ll collaborate with other participants to find
innovative climate solutions. Become part of a growing movement of empowered
communities and cities!
19 October from 2:30 pm
Download the flyer here
More information and registration here
RM@Schools Austrian Final on 18th of October 2018 at Montanuniversitaet Loeben
We are happy to announce the RM@Schools Austrian Final at Montanuniversitaet Loeben.
Schools from all parts of Austria will present their ideas on RawMaterials. The aim is to promote all topics related to RawMaterials and to make the students RawMaterials Ambassadors!
Further information can be found on the project website
Join us at the CBGA Conference on Geoscience 10th-13th September 2018 in Salzburg!
Welcome to CBGA 2018 – the conference of the Carpathian-Balkan Geological Association to be held all four years. CBGA 2018 is aimed bring together geoscientists from southeastern Europe with geoscientists from all over the world to one meeting covering all disciplines of the Earth sciences. CBGA 2018 aims to provide a forum where scientists, especially early career researchers, can present and discuss their recent research work and ideas with experts in all fields of geosciences. CBGA 2018 is to be held 10–13 September 2018 at the Paris-Lodron-University of Salzburg, Austria.
We are looking forward to see you in Salzburg in late summer 2018!
For further information and registration please click here.
RIC Leoben supports the first CirCOOL Summer School at Montanuniversität Leoben
CirCOOL, the new innovative international Summer School at Montanuniversitaet Leoben took place from 8th-18th July 2018. The team from RIC Leoben provided interesting input on two half days. Setting the scene for the coming days of circular economy learning the international students were given presentations on RIC Leoben’s core activities. Naturally, the focus was on EIT Raw Materials, EIT Climate KIC and the Sustainable Development Goals. Students were provided with interesting information and opportunities for their further studies and career. For example:
All presentations embraced the circular economy as core element and showed the CirCOOL student group different points of view that EIT Raw Materials, EIT Climate KIC and the Sustainable Development Goals can add to the circular economy. EIT RM moved resources and their availability into the focus while EIT Climate KIC highlights disruptive change in activities linked to massive greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, many circular economy practices foster the implantation of the SDGs as well as working on the SDGs improves the move to a more circular economy. The contribution of RIC Leoben was rounded off by an interactive group work on the last day of CirCOOL.
Die EU-Innovationsschmiede EIT Climate-KIC eröffnet heute eine neue Geschäftsstelle in Österreich. Unter der Leitung von Johannes Naimer-Stach wird EIT Climate-KIC Austria ein regionales Partner-Netzwerk aufbauen, welches systematisch Innovationen gegen den Klimawandel fördert. Vier österreichische Partner sind zu Beginn Teil dieses über 300 Mitglieder starken europäischen Partner-Netzwerks: WWF Österreich, die Montanuniverstität Leoben, Brainbows und das Austrian Institute of Technology.
“Ich freue mich über die Entscheidung von EIT Climate-KIC, verstärkt in Österreich aktiv zu werden. Dies ist ein gutes Zeichen für klimafreundliche Innovationen in Österreich, gerade vor der bevorstehenden EU-Präsidentschaft.”, so Johannes Naimer-Stach, Country Manager von EIT Climate-KIC Austria.
Neben dem Ausbau des Start-up Accelerator Programmes, werden Innovationsprojekte, wie das Landscape Finance Lab, sowie der 24-Stunden Klima-Hackathon Climathon am 19. & 20. Oktober 2018 in Wien und Graz, Höhepunkte dieses Jahres sein.
Mehr Informationen zu EIT Climate-KIC Austria finden Sie unter: at.climate-kic.org
Über 300 exzellente Partner aus Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft und öffentlicher Hand bilden mit
EIT Climate-KIC Europas größtes öffentlich-privates Netzwerk für Innovationen gegen den Klimawandel. EIT Climate-KIC ist in 25 europäischen Ländern aktiv und verknüpft Innovationsförderung, ein europäisches Accelerator-Programm für Start-ups, sowie hochwertige Bildungsangebote um systematisch Wissen in wettbewerbsfähige Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu wandeln. Gegründet wurde diese „Knowledge and Information Community“ (KIC) 2010 vom Europäischen Institut für Innovation und Technologie (EIT).
Mehr Informationen finden Sie unter www.climate-kic.org.
Regional Center Leoben at the EIT Raw Material Partner Summit Strategy Meeting 29th-30th May 2018, Berlin
The overall goal of the Partner Summit was to refocus the aims and objectives of the EIT Raw Materials and update some parts of the EIT Raw Materials’ strategy (education, RIS, start-ups, financial sustainability, Lighthouse Programmes). Partners of all CLCs were present and invited to share their thoughts on the development of the EIT Raw Materials. Many discussions were held and viewpoints exchanged as to how the network should develop. The EIT management team could collect a multitude of constructive ideas and feedback due to the breaking up of the large participants crowd into smaller groups. Additionally, the event was a perfect networking place and allowed for an exchange of new project ideas and areas of joint innovation.
The Partner Summit Strategy Meeting of EIT Raw Materials was attended by Peter Moser, Hanno Bertignoll and Anna Meyer. Karin Rehatschek joined the following day for the first General Assembly Meeting, where partners voted on recent changes in legal framework and the inclusion or upgrade of new partners.
EIT Climate-KIC and partners (University of Bologna, Wuppertal Institute, Lund University, Montanuniversität Leoben and Ecomatters) have launched an exciting programme to cut down plastic demand, promoting a more circular approach to plastic-based material systems.
The project aims to explore and use innovative digital tools to improve plastics waste prevention. This can, for example, include blockchain solutions for improved market transparency, data analytics for simulation and forecast applications, and cyber physical systems for improved reuse and remanufacturing business models.
49 million tons of plastic were used in the EU in 2015 for packaging, building and construction, electronics or the automotive industry. Currently, less than 40 per cent are recycled, more than 30 per cent are incinerated for energy recovery and the remaining are landfilled.
The quality of recycled plastics is increasing – however, the overall uptake of recycled plastics remains low. Only 6 per cent of new plastic materials come from recycling; 95 per cent of the potential economic value in plastic packaging currently goes to waste.
eCircular aims to tackle this issue, enhancing plastic waste prevention by developing and supporting digital innovations.
Project lead Alberto Bellini, from the University of Bologna, says: “eCircular thrives for radical digital innovations for waste prevention and their upscaling. Digital technologies foster traceability of materials and products, allow for accurate information flows on product qualities and availability, reducing gaps in knowledge and regulation.”
“The programme seeks to strongly contribute to the European strategy for plastics in a circular economy. It gathers and unites the relevant actors on a powerful platform to overcome major barriers, different knowledge bases, and priorities,” says Kirsten Dunlop, CEO at EIT Climate-KIC.
Sira Saccani, EIT Climate KIC’s Director of Sustainable Production Systems, adds that the programme “aims to transform the plastics value chain, addressing current structural inefficiencies through innovative business models & eco-design, as well as supporting the shift to new consumer choices and behaviours.”
eCircular is one of the EIT Climate-KIC’s initiatives on addressing the challenges plastic value chains face. EIT Climate-KIC’s ambition is to co-design and launch a series of circular economy interventions on cement, plastics and metals value-chains, to achieve its goal of recasting material production towards net-zero emissions.
Background
eCircular was launched in May 2018 by EIT Climate-KIC, with research and activities carried out by the University of Bologna (lead organisation), Wuppertal Institute, Lund University, Montanuniversität Leoben, and Ecomatters.
EIT Climate-KIC is contributing by leveraging it innovation network of key stakeholders in the industry to catalyse a change in the system.
About EIT Climate-KIC
EIT Climate-KIC is Europe’s largest public-private innovation partnership focused on climate innovation to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, we identify and support innovation that helps society mitigate and adapt to climate change.
For more information please visit:
Or contact ecircular@climate-kic.org
The university project UniNEtZ (Universities and Sustainable Development Goals) was initiated by Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria and connects fifteen Austrian universities to a common goal: to work towards the SGDs. UniNEtZ was presented to representatives of different ministries on the 7.5.2018 in Vienna. The participation of Montanuniversitaet Leoben in the set-up of the project was supported by RIC Leoben. The project, which starts in 2019, aims to create a report of Austria’s current SDG implementation. This report can be used to derive options for Austria’s future development in the light of the SDGs. The project will assess research, education, further education, responsible science and higher education management. Additionally, the project shall foster interdisciplinary work in and across the fifteen participating universities. The innovative linking of gathered knowledge and research among the universities shall, however, not be limited to them but spill over to political stakeholders, administration, economy and civil society. Furthermore, the project aims to enhance competences regarding questions posed by the SDGs. In this respect researchers and students will build up competencies to attempt answers on how to achieve the SDGs.
