Strategic Partnerships for Raw Materials: Innovative Approaches for sustainable production of Critical Raw Materials (IA) -

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

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Strengthen EU cooperation with countries the EU established strategic partnerships on Raw Materials[2];
• Improved industrial viability, safety and environmental impacts of the operation in a way that leads to measurable improvements;
• Improved diversification of EU sourcing of critical raw materials from third countries;
• Improved responsible supply of raw materials to Europe in line with the EU principles for sustainable raw materials[3], 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.
• Dissemination and exploitation of projects outputs is tailored for organisations and industry dealing with raw materials in the EU and project partner from Strategic partnership countries.
• 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 Critical Raw Materials Act[4].

Proposals should:

• Develop and demonstrate extraction, processing or refining technologies in order to facilitate and increase recovery in exploitation of primary critical raw materials (minerals and metals only). The proposals have to demonstrate (measure and assess) reduced environmental and social impact. Proposals can include additional exploration aspects if duly justified.
• Justify the relevance of all targeted minerals and metals. Priority are the EU critical raw materials. Sea mining is not within the scope of this topic.
• Collaborate with countries with which the EU has signed Strategic Partnerships on Raw Materials.[2]
• Collaborate with one selected Strategic Partnership country out of the four groups: Group 1 (Argentina, Chile), Group 2 (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, Rwanda, Zambia), Group 3 (Kazakhstan, Serbia, Uzbekistan), Group 4 (Australia, Greenland). Group 4 can be extended to countries which will sign strategic partnerships for raw materials before the deadline for applications. The consortia should include raw materials industry from the targeted country in the focussed group, as well as downstream users from the EU. Proposals are expected to focus on one out of four groups.
• Demonstrate technology on mineral resources of the targeted partner country. The environmental (including GHG and other air pollutant emissions, water, soils, biodiversity) and social impacts of technology should be duly measured and assessed.
• 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.
• Facilitate the market uptake of solutions developed through industry- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia covering the relevant value chain and should consider standardisation aspects if relevant. The action should also include the analysis of financial opportunities ensuring the market exploitation and replication of the circular business model behind the developed solutions as new processes, products and/or services.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination.

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.

[1] Annex 1 and Annex 2, Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, http).

[2] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/raw-materials-diplomacy_en

[3] European Commission. Directorate General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs. (2021). EU principles for sustainable raw materials. Publications Office. https://doi.org/10.2873/12856

[4] Regulation (EU) 2024/1252 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 April 2024 establishing a framework for ensuring a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials and amending Regulations (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1724 and (EU) 2019/1020 (OJ L, 2024/1252, 3.5.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2024/1252/oj).

[5] https://single-market-economy.ec.europa.eu/sectors/raw-materials/areas-specific-interest/raw-materials-diplomacy_en

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