Brussels, 13th December 2017:

The ETP SMR is glad to announce the election of its new Executive Committee for the period 2017-2019.

Dr. Corina Hebestreit, who served as the President for the last two consecutive terms, thanked the General Assembly for providing her with the opportunity to serve the Committee. As the Director of Euromines, Dr. Hebestreit has been actively involved in the ETP SMR from its very beginnings and received the gratitude of the Assembly for leading the Platform for the past number of years, noted by its establishment as a non-profit international association and the coordinator of the VERAM project. Similarly, the ETP SMR community thanked the other outgoing members of the Executive Committee, Dr. Thomas Drnek and Dr. John Bustnes.

Five candidates had put forward their names for consideration as members of the new Executive Committee and the General Assembly decided to appoint all five unanimously. Mr. Rafał Szkop (KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.) was elected as the new President, Dr. Slavko Šolar (EuroGeoSurveys) as the Vice President and Dr. Dámaris Fernández (Trinity College Dublin). The Executive Committee elections also saw the re-election of Ms. Sabine Mayer (Bergforsk) and Dr. Kari Knuutila (Outotec). The newly elected President and associates thanked the members for their trust and assured they will do their best in leading the ETP SMR forward and building on the successes to date.

The 9th General Meeting of the ETP SMR – which brought together industry representatives, technology providers, geologists, researchers and academics in the field of mineral resources – discussed the possibility to link their own activities to those of the rapidly developing EIT RawMaterials Knowledge and Innovation Community. Mr. Milan Grohol (European Commission – DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) was also present to discuss different project focus areas emanating from Horizon2020 and their relation to the EIP on Raw Materials Strategic Implementation Plan. The ETP SMR members are involved in a large number of research and innovation projects and the necessity to find a way of maintaining the progress being made within the community, in addressing some key industry-related and societal challenges, was made very clear during the meeting. With a new Executive Committee in place, the priority for the ETP SMR now and in the coming years will be shaped alongside the development of the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework and the research and innovation programme to be funded by it, to ensure the momentum behind the recent surge in research and innovation activities in the raw materials sector is not lost.