Reducing environmental footprint, improving circularity in extractive and processing value chains (IA) -

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 for EU industrial value chains and strategic sectors.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

• Reduce environmental impact of extractive and processing value chains;
• Develop demonstrators and pilot plants with a lower environmental impact;
• Reduce environmental footprint and increase circularity of extractive and processing value chains; and, where relevant, reduce contaminants and impurities in extracted raw materials;
• Develop methods, technologies and processes for mining and processing aiming at significantly decreased emissions (CO2 and other emissions);
• Significantly increase resource and energy efficiency, and increased circularity of raw materials together with increased valorisation of extractive waste;
• Contribute to meeting the goals of climate neutrality, circularity, zero pollution and system protection, sustainable use and restorations as spelled out in the European Green Deal.

Actions are expected to contribute to the implementation of the following actions of the EU action plan on Critical Raw Materials[1]:

• Use Horizon Europe funding for research into mining processes with minimal impact on the environment and life-cycle assessment;
• Support waste and extractive waste valorisation and energy efficiency through cross-sectoral cooperation and industrial symbiosis, involving the mining industry.

Scope

Actions should develop sustainable solutions to reduce dependence of extractive activities on carbon-related energy sources and process emissions. They should also address reducing materials use, water and waste valorisation at all stages of the extractive and processing cycle.

Actions should facilitate the market uptake of solutions developed through industrially- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia covering the relevant value chain and should consider standardisation aspects when relevant.

Actions should justify the relevance of selected pilot demonstrations in different locations within the EU (and also outside if there is a clear added value for the EU economy, industry and society).

Actions should facilitate the market uptake of solutions developed through industrially- and user-driven multidisciplinary consortia covering the relevant value chain and should consider standardisation aspects when relevant.

Proposals submitted under this topic should include a business case and exploitation strategy, as outlined in the introduction to this Destination. For TRLs 6-7, a credible strategy to achieve future full-scale manufacturing in the EU is expected, indicating the commitments of the industrial partners after the end of the project.

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.

Actions should also contribute to improving the awareness of relevant external stakeholders and the general public across the EU and in non-EU countries of project’s partners about the importance of raw materials for society, the challenges related to their supply within the EU and about proposed solutions which could help to improve society's acceptance of and trust in sustainable raw materials production in the EU.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Activities are expected to start at TRL 5 and achieve TRL 7 by the end of the project – see General Annex B.

Societal EngagementSocial Innovation

[1]COM (2020) 474

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