The National Cluster for Sustainable Mining and Associated Services of the Iberian Peninsula (ISMC) – Spain. ISMC brings together more than 80 companies, professional organizations, universities and research centres with more than 2000 employees dedicated to the mining industry and its associated services.

ISMC main objective is to unite efforts and attract relevant actors in the value chains of mining and raw materials to promote the sustainability and circularity of the sector while fostering growth, competitiveness and innovation.

ISMC works hand in hand with its members and partners to consolidate the strengths of the mining industry globally, with special interest in developing collaborative projects with institutional and commercial partners in the European Union.

ISMC currently leads the coordination or communication activities of a dozen EU-funded R&I collaborative projects. 

Fundación ICAMCYL (ICAMCYL) – Spain. ICAMCYL is a non-profit research foundation created by the automotive, manufacturing, advanced materials, mining and processing of raw materials sectors of Castilla y León (Spain). ICAMCYL acts as the Regional Innovation Network, linked to many European municipalities and various industries. It contributes to two Strategic European Alliances and industrial platforms, related to advanced materials for batteries and mining. ICAMCYL is specialized in innovation procurement: its expertise extends to mineral & strategic resources, advanced raw materials & industrial technologies, energy storage, capture, storage and re-use of CO2. With a strong presence in the European Innovation Platform of Raw Materials (EIP Raw Materials) and key EU initiatives like MIREU (“Mining and Metallurgy regions of EU”), ICAMCYL contribute significantly to the fields of circular economy and raw materials processing and reuse.

EREVNITIKO PANEPISTIMIAKO INSTITOUTO SYSTIMATON EPIKOINONION KAI YPOLOGISTON (ICCS) – Greece. The Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) was founded in 1992 following a roadmap to support the performance of top-quality research, development and the provision of scientific service to private and public bodies. ICCS-NTUA progress in disciplines of electrical and computer engineering, has led to successfully achieve its set goals and grow to a competent research institute in Greece and Europe. Also, ICCS has outstanding expertise in smart systems, data science, mobility, software engineering, and extended reality in various sectors such as construction and mine industries as well as fostering engagement through immersive technologies. In addition, in line with DEXPLORE project, ICCS is experienced in ΕΟ services for mining and the exploration of deep deposits. ICCS is very active in programs financed by the European Commission with substantial participation in competitive research programs. Up to date ICCS has participated in more than 230 projects (FP6, FP7), 76 projects of Horizon 2020 (e.g. TERRAVISION, MASTERMINE, THEROS) and in more than 500 national projects (ESPA, etc).

UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDY DI CAGLIARI (UNICA) – Italy. UNICA – established in 1606 – is a public state University with about 36,000 enrolled students, over 1,200 teaching staff and about 1,300 technical-administrative staff. Boasting internationally acclaimed results in various fields and numerous agreements with prestigious universities around the world, UNICA pursues a policy aimed at enhancing local academic excellence and it is one of the largest enterprises in Sardinia. UNICA has high-tech interdisciplinary laboratories equipped with cutting-edge equipment and top-level scientific skills offering facilities ranging from optical microscopy to X-ray diffraction, analytical chemistry, ultrafast spectroscopies and materials characterization. 

UNICA possesses a wide research program in collaboration with different international organizations, most of them financed by EU grants. UNICA is supported for the administrative management by the administrative staff of the European Project Office and by the central Liaison Office. At the moment, UNICA participates in 38 EU projects, among them 8 in the thematic area of physics, chemistry and engineering. UNICA is strongly active and involved in gender equality policies, in particular UNICA is beneficiary of the H2020 Project (Supera – Supporting the promotion of equality in research and academia) – H2020-Swafs-2017. 

The main mission is to elaborate and circulate the knowledge, to participate to the development culture, society and economy by means of research activity, high level teaching and knowledge transfer. 

CORE KENTRO KAINOTOMIAS AMKE (CORE IC) – Greece. CORE Innovation Centre is a fast-growing private R&D organisation focusing on delivering Industry 4.0 technological solutions to empower industrial operations with next-generation solutions – deep learning, IoT, edge computing, cloud computing -, sustainable practices and a human-centric approach. As a meeting point between industry and academia, CORE facilitates collaboration between industry leaders and research institutions by focusing in co-creating and developing Industry 4.0 solutions.   

In an era where data serves as the main driver of industrial processes, CORE’s strategic response to this paradigm is the implementation of cloud middleware, synergized with a data warehouse, utilizing cutting-edge equipment and state-of-the-art infrastructure. To efficiently manage the big data volumes from industrial processes, CORE deploys high-performance servers, storage, and data processing units while leveraging key technologies (e.g. Kubernetes, Docker Swarm, Ceph, ROCE, KVM, OpenZFS). Furthermore, the cloud middleware and data warehouse will be hosted on secure cloud infrastructure, leveraging cloud service providers renowned for their security protocols and high availability. CORE will employ advanced data integration tools, data governance frameworks to ensure the seamless aggregation, storage, and retrieval of extensive and diverse datasets, so that project stakeholders can harness the full potential of big data and hence enable them to extract valuable insights, identify emerging trends, and facilitate data-driven decision-making. In essence, CORE’s pivotal role in implementing the cloud middleware with data warehouse services is relying on a forward-looking approach that not only meets the immediate needs of data-intensive industries but also lays the foundation for a data ecosystem for efficient, scalable, and secure data and application utilization. In addition, CORE has extensive expertise in EU-projects, participating in >40 projects focused on process industry, manufacturing and mining. 

TALLINNA TEHNIKAÜLIKOOL (TalTech) – Estonia. TalTech, founded in 1918, is the sole technological university in Estonia and the most international also, with 11% of the nearly 10,000 enrolled students coming from >100 different countries across the globe. TalTech is a research-based university offering Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in engineering, natural sciences, IT, business and maritime studies. As a leader in science, technology, and innovation, the school constantly interacts with universities worldwide, bringing scientists, students, and entrepreneurs together. TalTech’s mission is to promote science, technology, and innovation and to be Estonia’s leading engineering and economic education provider.

MNLT INNOVATIONS IKE (MNLT) – Greece. MNLT Innovations is an SME founded in 2018, specializing in engineering consultancy with a strong focus on innovation management, business planning, and sustainability assessments. MNLT’s mission is to facilitate green and digital transitions by transforming innovative and sustainable ideas into market-ready solutions. The company offers comprehensive services in Innovation Management and Business Planning, developing commercialization strategies while emphasizing intellectual property rights, dissemination, and communication. Additionally, MNLT provides expert project proposal writing services, guiding organizations in securing the funding necessary to drive their innovations forward. Sustainability is at the core of MNLT’s operations. MNLT applies advanced tools to conduct Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), Social LCA, and Life-Cycle Cost (LCC) analyses, assessing the environmental, social, and economic impacts of emerging technologies. With a proven track record of over 20 successful projects across sectors such as climate change, mining, critical raw materials, and artificial intelligence, MNLT is a reliable partner for organizations aiming to advance innovation and sustainability.

TerraDat Geophysics S.L. (TerraDat) – Spain. TerraDat is a leading geophysical company established to address the need for exploration and monitoring of the subsurface. TerraDat’s innovative geophysical methods are applied across a wide range of sectors, including mineral exploration, civil and geotechnical engineering, environmental monitoring, renewable energy, and the water industry. TerraDat’s success lies in its cutting-edge technology, and in the training and professional development of our experts. TerraDat provides the best quality surveys thanks to a highly qualified staff, which is composed of experienced geophysicists that work together with research centers to expand the company’s technological capabilities. In this sense, TerraDat is actively cooperating with several Earth Science departments at European universities to bring new ideas to the market, including the development of passive seismic surveys for deep exploration.

XCALIBUR MPH SPAIN SL (XCALIBUR) – Spain. XCALIBUR is the global leader in airborne and mapping geophysics industry. With solid experience and a track record of exponential growth, XCALIBUR offers a wide range of advanced services and technologies for the exploration and evaluation of mineral, energy, and environmental resources. Owning a fleet of more than forty aircraft equipped with geophysical systems, XCALIBUR maps countries and lands to identify the properties of the sub- and above-surface, and discover potential areas of natural resources, such as critical minerals, hydrogen, or geothermal.

Its multidisciplinary and highly qualified team of experts (>300 highly qualified employees) employs cutting-edge technologies, including gravimetry, magnetometry or radiometry, to interpret this smart data and generate detailed reports and accurate recommendations. XCALIBUR operates in 6 continents where >1,400 projects have been executed. All this with the firm purpose of accelerating a just energy transition for a more sustainable economy, making us the partner of reference in natural capital mapping. 

EESTI GEOLOOGIATEENISTUS (EGT) – Estonia. The Geological Survey of Estonia, under the administration of the Ministry of Climate, operates in the following areas: a) geological mapping and surveys, b) ensuring access and preservation to geological information, c) government authorities advise, d) public information about concerning earth’s crust topics.

Given EGT comprehensive research in ore geology, including recent deep exploration drillings in NE Estonia, N Estonia, and Central Estonia, EGT has acquired new geological material including new drill hole geophysical logging. EGT latest technological advancement involves an extensive crystalline rock drill core scanning – Geotek. Moreover, EGT has experience as an EU project coordinator, with the EGT-TWINN project (Horizon Europe funding program) dedicated to develop advanced geological, geochemical, and geophysical survey skills, data management workflows, and subsurface modeling capability for exploration and geological resource assessment of European critical raw materials and geothermal energy – the future potential green energy source for Estonia. On the other hand, EGT is working closely with experts from leading international research institutions such as the Geological Survey of Finland, the British Geological Survey, the Geological Survey of Denmark, and the University of Oulu Mining School. 

ATALAYA RIOTINTO MINERA SL (ATM) – Spain. ATM is a fast-growing mining and development European company listed in the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market (Premium Segment) under the symbol “ATYM” which produces copper concentrates and silver as by-product. ATM’s main operation is Riotinto, which started in 2015 with an approach adapted to the most demanding standards in terms of sustainability and efficiency, reaching today a mine that processes approximately 15 million tons of ore/year to produce 250k tons of concentrate (55k tons of copper). This mine has become a driving force for the region, which has led to the socio-economic revitalization of the Riotinto Mining Basin. ATM is also exploring the nearby ore bodies, where it is possible to add value through breakthrough technologies such as the E-LIX system (owned by Lain Technologies) that would maximize the value of complex sulphides in the Riotinto District and the Pyrite Belt. The evaluation of high-grade brownfield ore bodies increases options and mine life. 

Moreover, ATM’s current operations include the Cerro Colorado open pit mine and a modern 15Mtpa processing plant, which has the potential to become a processing hub for owned regional projects and other external mines in the Andalusia region. ATM is also evaluating external opportunities that leverage core capabilities such as the new prospects in Pyrite Belt as Masa Valverde, the Proyecto Touro in Galicia and in other safe mining jurisdictions. 

ATM strives to become a leading multi-asset copper producer in Europe, maximizing the potential value of its current low-cost, low- risk assets and further exploring new opportunities.

MINERALES Y PRODUCTOS DERIVADOS S.A (MINERSA) – Spain. MINERSA is an international group of companies that produces more than 1M tons/y of minerals and chemical products. Specifically, the fluorspar has been the backbone of MINERSA production activities since its early days, >70 years ago in Spain, continuously producing from a significant number of fluorite mines. Today, MINERSA is combining production in Spain and South Africa, standing as the World 2nd largest producer of acid grade fluorspar. MINERSA has a dedicated metallurgical research lab (CIM) to profit from, and to increase its unique wealth of experience in fluorspar mining and processing. Thanks to all the above and the daily work of the on-site production teams, MINERSA has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable and solid fluorspar producers in the world. In the commercial side, MINERSA treasures the largest customer base in acid grade fluorspar with customers located around the globe and in all market niches.