General Information

Minerals, metals and advanced materials are key enablers to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal. Today, only a fraction of the most relevant raw materials is produced in Europe. This can be changed through a circular economy approach, through innovation in recycling, substitution, processing, mining, and exploration. It is the objective of EIT Raw Materials to secure a sustainable raw materials supply by driving innovation, education, and entrepreneurship across European industrial ecosystems.

EIT Raw Materials provides a collaborative environment for disruptive and breakthrough innovations by connecting business with academia, research, and investment. It also invests in future generation of innovators for the raw materials sector through initiatives ranging from education of school students to higher qualifications for industry professionals.

EIT Raw Materials Lighthouses

Lighthouses are large-scale and long-term innovation initiatives that address critical and specific raw materials challenges for Europe. They provide guidance for innovation projects that create smart solutions along the entire raw materials value chain for a sustainable future.

  1. Raw Materials and Circular Societies Lighthouse:

This Lighthouse program will demonstrate the raw materials sector as a major strength and central service provider for the transition to Circular Societies. The main objective of this Lighthouse will be to support and boost the transition from Linear Societies to Circular ones through the support of innovative solutions to be implemented in cities and industries. These solutions will include:

  • new technologies
  • new educational approaches related to new skills required for this transition process
  • new educational and awareness approaches to get citizens/consumers participating and supporting this transition process
  • new methodologies to assess circularity
  • new methodologies to support the transition to Circular Cities
  • new business models
  • new circular products
  1. Sustainable Materials for Future Mobility Lighthouse:

The vision of this Lighthouse is to drive innovation in the making, use, and recycling of Sustainable and Cost-Efficient Materials and Technologies for Future Mobility.

The need and importance for a Lighthouse on Sustainable Materials for Future EU Mobility:

  • The mobility sector is a strong industry with many jobs in Europe.
  • The manufacturing industry in the mobility sector has a long value chain with related strong and diverse raw materials industries.
  • We are entering a mobility revolution with new challenges in terms of technology, social organisation, and business competition.
  • The Lighthouse Sustainable Materials for Future Mobility follows a cross-value chain approach and is an ideal theme to cross-link with other Innovation Communities.
  • There are many EIT RawMaterials partners active in the field.
  1. Sustainable Discovery and Supply Lighthouse

The vision of this Lighthouse is to boost innovation, social engagement and investment for Europe’s clean and green future.

Sustainable Discovery and Supply Lighthouse strategic goals are:

  • unlocking the potential for a renewed raw materials sector in Europe as a driver for domestic raw material value chains
  • building on Europe’s existing strengths in industry, research, innovation and infrastructure within and outside EIT RawMaterials diverse portfolio
  • further establishing trust, credibility and recognition through competency, positive engagement and by creating value for all stakeholders
  • providing clear advice for decision-makers and fostering innovation by creating, transferring and applying knowledge and driving the application of research outcomes through to stakeholder engagement
  • boosting responsible investments in the raw materials sector and invigorating the European start-up and junior company environment by fostering entrepreneurial talent
  • taking responsibility to reduce the footprint of the raw materials sector (waste-water-energy-emissions)

EIT RawMaterials Partners

As a partnership organisation, EIT RawMaterials focus is on continuously strengthening the Innovation Community by networking and collaborating with various stakeholders. EIT RawMaterials comprises of more than 120 core and associate partners and over 180 project partners of leading businesses, universities, research & technology organisations from over 20 EU countries. Partners of EIT RawMaterials are active across the entire raw materials value chain; from exploration, mining and mineral processing to substitution, recycling and circular economy. They collaborate on finding new, innovative solutions to secure supplies and improve the raw materials sector in Europe.

EIT RawMaterials aims to significantly enhance innovation in the raw materials sector by sharing of knowledge, information and expertise: Entrepreneurs, Start-ups and SMEs receive funding and support through EIT RawMaterials’ partner network and collaboration activities.

EIT RawMaterials partners benefit from preferred access to the network and respective servicing components. Interested parties can choose amongst three different partner levels:

  • Core Partner: Full access to strategy and governance
  • Associate Partner: Shared access to strategy and governance
  • Project Partner: Shared access to strategy and governance

As a partner of EIT RawMaterials, you will:

  • Become a part of the world’s largest innovation community in the raw materials sector working towards developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe
  • Engage with stakeholders from the entire raw materials value chain
  • Promote increased resource efficiency and the improvement of processes and products
  • Support the introduction of new, innovative technologies
  • Rethink current linear economic model to move towards a circular approach
  • Increase human capital in the raw materials sector
  • Promote entrepreneurial education at all levels
  • Enhance the innovation capacity and industrial competitiveness of Europe

For more information, please visit https://eitrawmaterials.eu/

Other Informations

Please visit the web page of EIT Raw Materials for more information.

[1] https://eitrawmaterials.eu/about-us/

[2] https://eit.europa.eu/eit-community/eit-raw-materials