Raw materials are essential for the functioning of the economy of industrialised regions like the EU. Sectors such as construction, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, electrics/electronics, energy generation and machinery are completely dependent on access to certain raw materials. In this respect, the EU has to secure a reliable and uninterrupted supply of raw materials and achieve a sustainable and efficient management of non-energy raw materials.
In autumn 2012 the EU Council announced the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials, a stakeholder platform that brings together representatives from industry, public services, academia and NGOs. Its mission is to provide high-level guidance to the European Commission, Members States and private actors on innovative approaches to the challenges related to raw materials. The EIP’s Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) set out specific objectives and targets.
The ETP SMR is committed to provide a coordination function for the raw materials related research activities across the relevant ETPs and national technology platforms across the raw materials value chain in order to increase synergies and facilitate uptake of research results and innovation.

The ETP SMR set 5 Strategic Ambitions:

1. Exploration and Inventory of Resources

2. Mineral Extraction from Land and Sea Bed Deposits

3. Mineral Processing

4. Metallurgy/Metals Recovery

5. Recycling

The strategic Ambitions will be developed with the participation and collaboration of the ETP SMR’s wide range of stakeholders: Mineral Industry (large enterprises, SMEs, machinery providers, including the whole production and supply chain), sector’s Associations (i.e. European Technology Platforms), Geological Surveys, Academia and Research institutes, EU Institutions, citizens, public institutions and bodies. Through integrating all stakeholders across the raw-material value chain a critical mass will be established to implement successful R&D with cross-sectorial application potential.
Technological Research, development and education are the core elements of the Strategic Agenda of ETP SMR. The ETP SMR comprises all the elements of the Knowledge triangle (Innovation, Knowledge and Education) so that targeted innovation activities are possible.

Download the ETP SMR Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda