Expected Outcome:

Projects outcomes will enable achieving the expected impacts of the destination by increasing access to primary raw materials and secondary raw materials, in particular critical raw materials^[1] for EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

-Develop innovative technologies for exploration of critical raw materials in deep land deposits in the EU and non-EU countries;

-Increase the resources and reserves of various primary critical raw materials within the EU and non-EU countries;

-Accelerate development of EU domestic critical raw materials exploration projects integrating innovative technologies;

-Strengthen EU autonomy and ethical sourcing of raw materials by developing socially and environmentally acceptable means of discovery of primary raw materials.

-Improve responsible supply of raw materials to the EU in line with the EU principles for sustainable raw materials, which are a non-regulatory set of principles based on the EU acquis. They set out requirements for sustainable raw materials and extraction and processing in Europe in terms of social, environmental and economic performance.^[2]

-Promote the utilisation of UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources) and UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management System) in the raw materials sector.

Actions are expected to contribute to the implementation of the EU action plan on Critical Raw Materials.^[3]

Scope:

Actions should map Europe’s primary raw materials potential and raw materials production, using geoscientific approaches and refining capacities in a harmonised form, using UNFC (United Nations Framework Classification for Resources) and UNRMS (United Nations Resource Management System).

-Develop and deploy new or improved highly efficient, sustainable exploration technologies, such as UAV assisted geological exploration in remote areas, geophysics, 3D modelling, new drilling techniques, models of whole mineral systems related to critical raw materials, high resolution laboratory techniques, artificial intelligence and data processing to identify deep seated mineral deposits of critical raw materials.

Actions should also contribute to improving the awareness of the general public across the EU about:

-The importance of raw materials for a successful transition to a climate-neutral and digitised economy and society; and

-The ensuing need for a secure, sustainable, and responsibly-sourced supply of raw materials, including from domestic sources to strengthen EU open strategic autonomy and reduce over-dependence on third countries.

Actions should envisage clustering activities with other relevant selected projects for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events. To this end proposals should foresee a dedicated work package and/or task, and earmark the appropriate resources accordingly.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and/or gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement, however, should you consider it to be of relevance for your specific proposal, you are strongly encouraged to do it.

Specific Topic Conditions:

Activities are expected to achieve TRL 3-5 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

[1]https://ec.europa.eu/growth/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/critical-raw-materials_en

[2]https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6d541f66-0f81-11ec-9151-01aa75ed71a1

[3]COM (2020) 474