News & Events

Monday, 09 September 2024, members of the Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources”, namely ENICON, EXCEED, AVANTIS, LITHOS and CICERO will organise one session in conjunction with International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium (ICHS 2024). The event is titled: “Towards responsible mining and processing of energy-transition metals in Europe: A mere pipedream or a realistic opportunity?” and will be held as satellite event of the main event ICHS 2024.

Download the Cluster tentative agenda 

During this event, which is organised before the start of the ICHS 2024, a round-table discussion with representatives from different entities (EU, academia, research institutions, industry, SMEs, NGOs etc.) will be held to shed light on social license to operate (SLO) issues (in particular with respect to the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) target to endorse and fast-track “Strategic Projects”), inform society about the requirements of the green energy transition, the responsibility of the mining industry to manage its impacts and identify the most critical aspects to fundamentally transform society’s trust in mining.

Immediately after its M24 Consortium meeting, the LiCORNE project will co-organise the first edition of the Symposium on Direct Lithium Extraction (SDLE). The event is hosted between 17 and 18 October 2024 by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

This symposium will delve into the latest advancements and innovative technologies in the field of direct lithium extraction (DLE), fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange to drive forward this critical sector.

Topical Overview:­

  • Liquid / solid Li extraction technologies
  • Membrane & precipitation technologies
  • Conversion to battery
  • Electrochem. Li extraction & Desalination Technologies
  • Concentration & Purification of Li-brines

The symposium will feature additional

  • industry sessions
  • poster sessions, where interested parties can submit abstracts

More information

On 11 July 2024, in Stuttgart, take part in this pioneering, industry leading event dedicated to electric vehicle batteries, where material, battery, OEM and recycling leaders explore future recycling trends, innovations and disruptive technologies shaping the future of emobility.

Electric Vehicle Battery Recycling Summit equips industry leaders with the knowledge and partnerships essential for sustainable success. Explore state-of-the-art technologies and pioneering methods that optimize recycling processes, enhance efficiency, and promote environmental responsibility. Stay ahead of the curve and ensure your operations excel in the rapidly advancing field of EV battery recycling.

Explore cutting-edge solutions and innovations designed to enhance the sustainability of electric vehicles, extract greater value from battery waste, and foster the transition toward a more circular battery economy.

Discover the programme

Register here

The Horizon Europe projects EXCEED and ENICON, members of Cluster Hub  for “Production of raw materials for batteries from European Resources”, co-organise  a joint  capacity building webinar on 21 June.  The webinar targets postgraduate students, as well as early-stage researchers.

Four lectures will be given by Priyadharshini Perumal (UOulu), Fernando Prado Araujo (KU Leuven), Daniel Monfort Climent (BRGM), and Ruben Snellings (KU Leuven), who are experts in their fields.

Interested parties are invited to register here before 19/06/2024.

The registered participants will receive an email with the workshop’s Zoom link.

The first International Circular Hydrometallurgy Symposium (ICHS 2024), organised by SOLVOMET – KU Leuven’s Research and Innovation Centre for Circular Hydrometallurgy, will take place in Mechelen, Belgium, between 9-11 September.

Discover the ICHS 2024 programme

Various member projects of our Cluster Hub will organise a satellite event in conjuction with ICHS 2024 titled “Towards responsible mining and processing of energy-transition metals in Europe: A mere pipedream or a realistic opportunity?”.

The Raw Materials Summit is a call-to-action – a platform – for industry leaders, educators and innovative new talent to share their vision for a sustainable raw materials future. The aim is to raise awareness of the critical role of raw materials, exchange knowledge and break down the barriers that delay sustainable value chains.

The event will take place this year at The Egg Brussels, Rue Bara 175, 1070 Bruxelles, Belgium, between 14 and 16 May.

The transition to clean energy means changing how we identify, source, use and re-use raw materials. We are all dependent on a sustainable raw materials supply and need to play an active role in the creation and maintenance of a responsible raw materials sector.

The 6th edition of the Raw Materials Summit will feature topics such as:
  • Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and its impact
  • Raw Materials Academy and our future workforce
  • Changes to supply, demand and the latest trade policies
  • Electrification through renewables – and nuclear
  • Heightening mineral security for defense & space
  • Three nations present minerals investment plans
  • Looking beyond the EU’s existing strategic ties
  • Responsible sourcing for the automotive sector
  • The steel industry’s race to net zero
  • Reputation management and mineral transparency

More information

Join Europe’s metals industry on Thursday 18 April, for the launch of a quantifiable, six-part recipe for Europe to deliver Critical Raw Materials Act resilience by 2030. The event is hosted by Eurometaux.

High-level speakers will be debating where, how, and when the next European Commission and Parliament need to act with real ambition for getting Europe back in the global race for clean tech supply chains.

In a turbulent world of subsidies and geopolitics, Europe has to create a best-in-class “industrial kitchen”, so its strategic industries can not only survive, but also thrive – and prospects show potential to ensure European resilience.

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Marek Balt, MEP
  • Hildegard Bentele, MEP
  • Kerstin Jorna, Director General, DG Grow
  • Judith Kirton Darling, General Secretary, IndustriALL
  • Sara Matthieu, MEP
  • Evangelos Mytilineos, CEO Mytilineos
  • Julia Poliscanova, Senior Clean Vehicles Director, Transport & Environment
  • Peter Tom Jones, KU Leuven

The event will take place at the Autoworld, from 13:30 to 17:00 followed by a cocktail, with a possibility to attend remotely.

In-person places are limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

More information

RAWMINA and CRM-geothermal projects, both funded under the Horizon Europe programme and members of the Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries”, are organising a joint webinar on 12 March 2024, from 10:00 to 11:30 CET.

This collaborative effort embodies the spirit of innovation and cooperation driving European initiatives towards sustainable resource management. Both projects are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge technologies aimed at revolutionising critical raw materials (CRM) extraction methodologies. Utilising advanced techniques such as adsorption and other innovative separation methods, RAWMINA and CRM-geothermal are redefining possibilities in critical raw materials recovery from mine waste and geothermal fluids.

The webinar serves as a platform to delve into the intersecting realms of RAWMINA and CRM-geothermal, facilitating an exchange of insights and discoveries.

Key objectives:

  • Sharing Research Insights: Presenting initial research findings and milestones achieved by both projects, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of CRM extraction technologies.
  • Engaging with the Public: Fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange with stakeholders, academia, industry experts, and the public to cultivate a collective understanding of the challenges and opportunities in CRM extraction.
  • Exploring Collaborative Opportunities: Discovering synergies and forging pathways for collaboration with other initiatives like the Cluster Hub and the Raw Materials Helix

Register here

On 19 February 2024, the  EXCEED Horizon Europe funded research project organises the 1st Capacity Building Seminar.

The seminar will be held online. Three lectures will be given by Prof. Lev Filippov (University of Lorraine), Prof. Valerie Cappuyns. (KU Leuven), Toni Eerola Senior Specialist, (Geologist, Geological Survey of Finland), who are experts in their fields.

The target group of the seminar involves mainly graduate and post graduate students and early stage researchers, however all students and researchers in topics related to EXCEED’s objectives are welcome!

Registration is open by 15/02/2024. Registered participants will receive an email with the workshop’s Zoom link.

Register here

The detailed program is the following:

Lecturer Lecture Date
Valerie Cappuyns. Professor, KU Leuven. “Geochemical assessment in the field of mining and resource recovery” 19/2/202409:00 AM – 10.30 PM

(CET)

Lev Filippov,
Professor, Ecole nationale supérieure de Géologie , University of Lorraine
“Exploring the challenges and advances in processing of hard Li deposits” 19/2/202410.30 AM – 12.00 PM

(CET)

Toni Eerola
Senior Specialist, Geologist, Geological Survey of Finland 
“Preliminary assessment of the social licence to operate in four European lithium projects” 19/2/202413:00 AM – 14.30 PM

(CET)

The Cluster Hub “Production of raw materials for batteries from European resources” is a knowledge exchange ecosystem, where partners involved in different European projects (private companies, support organisations, experts, universities and research institutes) can identify and discuss common topics related to their projects, and to the production of materials for batteries, as well as synergies that can foster innovations in this field.

The initiative to establish a permanent clustering hub appeared first in November 2022, during the 7th edition of the Raw Materials Week, when eight EU-funded projects gathered together for the workshop with the same name: “Production of raw materials for batteries from European sources”. Encouraged by a first successful event, and echoed by the stakeholders’ vivid interest for collaboration, the European Commission welcomed with enthusiasm the proposal to establish a permanent Clustering Hub.

This year’s annual meeting will allow all representatives – counting today no less than 12 projects, to share the preliminary results of their work, address the remaining challenges that all EU initiatives face, and interact with external stakeholders actively interested in the issues and opportunities raised by these projects.

The Cluster Hub’s annual workshop is a satellite event organised within the Raw Materials Week 2023, and it will take place in hybrid format, on 16 November 2023. 

Register here

Interested to join the Cluster Hub or learn more about this initiative?