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UNEXMIN presented at AIMS 2019, Aachen

On the 13th and 14th of June, during the AIMS – Aachen International Mining Symposia – 2019, Luís Lopes, from LPRC, gave a talk about the development and current state of the UNEXMIN, under the Second International Conference “Mines of the future”. UNEXMIN is developing an exploration technology that might be part of a vision where mines are innovative and sustainable.

The two days event counted with numerous personnel from academia, research, industry and governmental bodies, all interested or involved in mining and related topics. There has been a number of keynote talks and presentations, divided into sessions and a panel discussion, fostering dialogue on the different emerging topics.

The first day started with three keynote talks about the sustainability of mining in the present and future, and on the current best practices. Six main sessions succeeded, with 4 to 5 presentations per session:

  1. Science: Tailings & Mine wastes
  2. Technology: Digitalisation
  3. Science: Methods & measurements
  4. Science: Mining challenges
  5. Technology: Equipment & methods
  6. Innovation: Modelling

The UNEXMIN project was introduced under session 5 – Technology: Equipment & methods, by Luís Lopes: “Re-exploring flooded mines: the UNEXMIN unique robotic solution”. The talk was well received by the audience, which showed big interest in a number of questions that focused on the technology as well as on policy aspects on its application.

On the second day, two parallel sessions kickstarted discussions: 1) Technology: Resource extraction and 2) Technology: New systems. A unique session on “Responsibility: Engagement and closure” ended the talks of the conference, right before the final panel discussion on the “Mines of the future need to be different from those of today!”.

Posters sessions and exhibitions of mining companies completed a very innovative and interesting event. The network possibilities with partners from different areas of the globe and the raw materials value chain were also very welcome.

It was a great pleasure that LPRC and the UNEXMIN project was represented in an important discussions about the present and future of mining activities, spanning through all the value chain, from exploration to exploitation and even to mine closure and remediation.

LPRC is actively taking part of a change that is already ongoing!

UNEXMIN Final Conference, Brussels

This event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the UNEXMIN project overall and its specific fields of work, including minerals exploration, raw materials exploitation, and robotics and ICT development, with cross-cutting discussions that aim at demonstrating the impact that UNEXMIN can have on the European landscape.

The programme sessions are: 1) setting the political context: the future of mining in Europe, 2) Raw materials and mining, 3) robotics and functionalities and 4) round table – mineral exploration: future and long-term initiatives.

Registration to the event is free of charge: https://www.unexmin.eu/unexmin-final-conference/#tab-id-5

¡VAMOS! Final consortium meeting & Final review meeting, Brussels

The ¡VAMOS! project, from where the consortium developed an innovative mining system, is now over. The final consortium meeting was held on the 30th of January and the final review meeting with the European Commission and the project reviewer on the 31st of January. Now it is time to wrap up the results and collect the fruits of future collaboration.

The consortium meeting brought together the project partners to discuss on the overall achievements during the past 4 years. The partners were very happy with what was achieved from this ambitious project. Discussions on the short and medium-term futures were held among the partners. It is essential to find a common ground to continue and exploit the results arising from this project.

On the other hand, during the review meeting, all the work done during the project was presented and scrutinized by the Project Officer and reviewer. Presentations covered topics such as policy, future research and stakeholder engagement (where LPRC participated) and others on the actual development of the technology – the mining machine, EVA and the LARV, amongst others. The consortium got a very positive feedback from the work done, which certifies the value of these 4 years for all the partners.

LPRC is pleased to have been able to be part of such a consortium and project. Our role on Policy, Stakeholder engagement, Dissemination and Future research prospects helped the project in many ways. We hope the future is bright for ¡VAMOS!

Read more about the outcomes and future of ¡VAMOS!: http://vamos-project.eu/the-outcomes-and-the-future-of-the-vamos-project/

Watch the final ¡VAMOS! video – ¡VAMOS! project movie

Launch of the European Raw Materials Intelligence Capacity Platform

On January 2018, the H2020 MICA (Mineral Intelligence Capacity Analysis) Project was finalized concurrently with the launch of the European Raw Materials Intelligence Capacity Platform (EU-RMICP) contributing to the European Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EU-RMKB). Knowledge is essential for ensuring a sustainable and secure global supply of raw materials, both primary and secondary, to the EU’s economy and society. Proper knowledge management promotes activities of the raw materials sector, regarding not only exploration, extraction, processing/refining and recycling, but also investments, innovation, trade, development, skills and education. Knowledge is also key for policy support, informed debate and decision-making.

During the last 2 years the project brought together 16 partners from 13 different countries plus 15 geological surveys as linked third parties (LTPs) to assess raw materials stakeholders needs, collect and build a database and assess relevant methods and tools on raw materials intelligence, to investigate raw materials intelligence options for European mineral policy development and build a web-based intelligence platform (EU-RMICP). LPRC was actively involved as task leaders in “Strategic Raw Materials Intelligence Approaches”. Check out the new platform!

EU Raw Materials Week, 2018

The 3rd edition of the EU “Raw Materials Week” will take place from Monday 12 to Friday 16 November 2018 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 will be 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.

Some of the highlights of the RMW, which LPRC Team will follow, are the Critical Raw Materials in our everyday lifeCopernicus for Raw MaterialsResponsible Supply of Raw MaterialsEIT RawMaterials – Developing raw materials into a major strength for Europe6th annual High Level Conference of the EIP on Raw MaterialsDrivers and Solutions for Integrating Information in the EU RMKBUN Framework Classification for Sustainable Resources Management in Europe sessions.

LPRC Team will be present throughout the week! Reference and registration: eurawmaterialsweek.eu

STRADE Final conference

STRADE addresses the long-term security and sustainability of the European raw material supply from European and non-European countries to develop dialogue-based, innovative policy recommendations for a European strategy on future raw-material supplies.

STRADE final conference ‘Towards new paths of raw material cooperation – Renewed EU partnerships with Africa, China, Latin America and Member States’. The Conference will be held on Wednesday, 10th of October, 2018 in Brussels, at the Bedford Hotel & Congress Centre (Rue du Midi 1351000 Brussels) from 09:00 – 17:30. Luís Lopes and Tamás Miklovicz are participating at the event.

The agenda and session information are available here. Reference: stradeproject.eu

Info Day Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 5

LPRC was present at the most recent Horizon 2020 information day, where the opportunities and challenges for the future of Societal Challenge 5 (Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials) and its 2019 funding calls were discussed.

The event had place in the Charlemagne building of the European Commission during the 11th and 12th of September, in Brussels. It counted with the presence of a wide range of stakeholders from the research, education, business and industry spectrums that wanted to learn more about the future of the Horizon 2020 programme and new opportunities, to network and together help EU’s future regarding environment, climate and resource sufficiency through meaningful partnerships.

LPRC members participated in sessions related to raw materials, proposal preparation and evaluation and on how to make economic impact out of innovation actions. Thanks to these, LPRC’s background on Horizon 2020 projects’ preparation, development and exploitation has been improved. Networking periords allowed the team to discuss relevant topics with an international audience.

LPRC is open and actively searching for cooperation opportunities in Europe and beyond to help to shape the future for better with its range of capabilities.

All presentations and recorded sessions from the information day are available from the EASME website.

Geothermal conference: the impact of EU R&D funding

A Trinomics led consortium, on behalf of The European Commission, will be delivering a conference in Brussels on 20 September 2018 on geothermal renewable energy research, development and technologies.

The complimentary conference will provide insights into the impacts of R&D funded through the EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation; including providing access to the Geothermal Renewable Energy R&D Impact Report and an opportunity to influence the recommendations to increase future R&D impacts.

During the workshop key industry experts will share their insights on the future of Geothermal technologies and there will be opportunities for you to discuss and understand how to increase the impacts of your own research projects. Tamas Miklovicz is attending to the event. Reference and more information here.

Information Days HORIZON 2020

Information and networking days on the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, Challenge “Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency & Raw Materials” – 2019 calls – will take place on 11 and 12 September 2018 in Brussels in the European Commission’s Charlemagne building, rue de la Loi 170.

The event targets potential applicants to the 2019 calls for project proposals under the Horizon 2020 Challenge 5 “Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials”. Luís Lopes and Tamas Miklovicz are attending to the event. Reference and more information here.

FTA2018 – Future in the making

Exploring new challenges of policymaking and future-oriented frames and methods to respond to them is the aim of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) FTA2018 conference – Future in the making. The organisers encourage foresighters, policymakers, practitioners, designers, academics or a future-thinkers to participate and explore the future at the FTA2018.

The conference is to contribute to transformation and innovation in policymaking by:

  • Presenting and debating insights from recent future-oriented work on specific policy relevant topics;
  • Sharing experiences of how foresight has been used in policymaking
  • Demonstrating how foresight has influenced policy processes and decisions;
  • Supporting the advancement of methods, practices and complementary approaches to changing policymaking needs;
  • Stimulating the uptake of these approaches and exchange between practitioners and policymakers.

Reference and registration: https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/fta2018

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