Consortium

LEONORE DEVELOPMENT is a company dedicated to the global development of mining and industrial projects across its value chain.

CORE Innovation Centre (CORE IC for short) is a non-profit research organisation, a subsidiary of CORE Group, dedicated to fostering an innovative industrial ecosystem. CORE IC aims to provide individuals, industries and companies with opportunities to reach their true potential, to make industries smarter and greener, more sustainable and more socially inclusive. Industry 4.0 is where CORE IC chooses to focus its research and innovation efforts, deploying advances in a range of technologies i.e. IoT, big data, machine and deep learning, edge and cloud computing to maximise the potential of both people and entities in multiple sectors.

The Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS) is the oldest and one of the largest academic research institutes in Greece. It is the research branch of the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), and it was founded in 1989 as an independent, non-profit body. The Institute maintains well-organized facilities based in Athens and has a reputation as a top-level research institution worldwide. With more than 800 highly qualified researchers and having participated in more than 4,000 national and European R&D projects, ICCS offers a world-class research environment and a dynamic hub.

In ΟPΤΙΜΙΝΕR project, ICCS is represented by one of its most dynamic research units, I-SENSE Group. Founded in 2002, the I-SENSE Research Group is committed to the highest standards of academic excellence and today employs more than 200 researchers who carry out basic and interdisciplinary cutting-edge research across 10 thematic divisions: Connected Cooperative Automated Mobility (CCAM), Earth Observation and Environmental Monitoring (EOEM), Multimodal Logistics & Maritime Operations (ML), Industry 5.0 & Smart Manufacturing (ISM), Circular Economy & Tracing (CET), Smart Mobility Applied Systems (SMAS), Intelligent Networks & Services (INS), Crisis Management and Secure Societies (CMSS), Health Technologies (HT) and Extended Reality (XR).

LIBRA AI is a Boutique Data Science Agency bringing disruptive Machine Learning and AI business intelligence into real life applications. The company is focusing on R&D activities to stay up to date with the latest advances in the field of Machine Learning and Computer Vision. As research-intensive SME LIBRA AI is pioneering in a range of cutting-edge ML technologies including deep learning, streaming/online ML, Natural Language Processing, multiple time-series forecasting, anomaly detection, recommender systems, and distributed ML. These capabilities enable the company to tackle diverse application areas, from marketing analytics to indoor positioning and from unstructured text-based question-answering to Al-enabled Business Intelligence.

AHK Chile, The Chilean-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, founded in 1916 by German entrepreneurs in Valparaíso, is a non-profit trade association with over 550 member companies. Focused on strategic sectors such as Mining and Mineral Resources, Innovation & Technology Transfer, Energy, and Sustainability, AHK Chile fosters collaboration between both countries. It drives the adoption of advanced mining technologies, promotes sustainable resource management, and strengthens workforce development to boost productivity and competitiveness in the sector. AHK Chile not only represents the interests of its members as the official representative of German industry in Chile but has also established itself as a key platform for business collaboration and the transfer of technology, expertise, and innovation between Chile and Germany.

Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa SA (JSW) is a leading European producer of high-quality coking coal and coke, essential for the steel industry. Within OPTIMINER project, a demonstration will be conducted at one of JSW's mines to present advanced coking coal processing technology. The initiative is supported by two key scientific institutions: the Łukasiewicz Research Network – Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals and the Główny Instytut Górnictwa – National Reaserach Institute.

The Institute of Environmental Biotechnology at the Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA Tulln in Lower Austria, from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), is a leading institution dedicated to the advancement of research and education in the field of materials and bioremediation recycling and microbial metabolism. Its primary mission is to improve the quality of life and protect our precious natural resources. The institute excels with its outstanding laboratories equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure in microbiology and bioprocess engineering, complemented by sophisticated analytical instrumentation, such as HPLC, GC, MALDI-TOF, FTIR, and SEM. The facility has laboratories dedicated to microbiology, molecular biology, and enzymology equipped for comprehensive testing, as well as an appropriate room for the bioreactors needed for this work.

CogniSensus is a spin off company of the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems and its IPR is based on years of research of the ISENSE group of ICCS. The company builds technologies that enable better sensing, data modeling, visualization and/or actuation, supporting the operation, decision-making or training in complex environments.

Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón (ITA), is a Technology Center with its own legal personality, non-profit and whose purposes are of general interest, legally constituted at the initiative of the Government of Aragon in 1984 and chaired by the Department of Presidency, Economy and Justice of the Government of Aragon. Our mission is to promote research, innovation and technological development in companies and to promote the technological possibilities of our region to develop new products and processes, with the purpose of boosting Aragon's competitiveness.

Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (IMN) is a part of the Łukasiewicz Research Network, the third-largest research network in Europe, comprising 22 institutes located in 12 cities across Poland and employing 4,500 scientists and experts. As a leading research center for the Polish non-ferrous metals industry, IMN plays a crucial role in advancing sustainable materials processing, recycling, implementation of circular economy principles, and critical raw material security. IMN conducts comprehensive research across the entire lifecycle of metallic materials, from primary ore processing to advanced recycling technologies. Its expertise covers pyro-, hydrometallurgy, waste and scrap treatment, environmental protection, analytical chemistry, and material science, with a strong focus on sustainable resource management. The Institute actively supports industry through technology development, process optimization, and production modernization, driving green innovation and circular economy strategies across various sectors. Center of Mineral Processing is representing Institute in the Optiminer project. EU Projects realized in last 5 years by the Centre: BATTERFLAI (KIC Raw Materials), FineFuture (H2020), NOMECOR (STAIR), MetNet (KIC Raw Materials) and NetFlot (KIC Raw Materials).

TERNA MAG is a magnesite and magnesia producer and, member of GEK TERNA GROUP, one of the leading business groups in Greece. The company produces and supplies a broad range of magnesia-based products for various applications in metallurgy, agriculture, paper, construction, and chemical industries. TERNA MAG S.A. exploits the world-class cryptocrystalline magnesite deposits in the northern part of Euboea Island, at the area of Mantoudi. The raw magnesite is extracted from the underground and the open pit mines at Gerorema and Kakavos area, respectively where ore beneficiation processing takes place. The magnesite is transported at the state-of-the-art industrial facilities at Mantoudi. Leveraging on its high-quality products and services, TERNA MAG S.A. is committed to becoming a reliable, leading global supplier of magnesia products, being a long-term business partner with its customers by following sustainable development principles and practices.

Fraunhofer Chile CSET, established in 2015 as part of the Fraunhofer Chile Research Foundation, connects Chilean and German expertise to drive sustainable technological innovation. Focused on renewable energy, green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and the circular economy, it bridges research and industry needs with practical solutions. Collaborating with Chilean universities and German Fraunhofer Institutes, the center delivers results-oriented projects. With over 130 projects executed, it has a proven track record in fostering sustainable development in Chile and Latin America. Its work advances cutting-edge technologies while addressing critical global environmental and industrial challenges.

Ecocastulum is a technology company based founded in 2022 by a multidisciplinary group of professionals aiming to cover the wide engineering field with sustainable solutions for the industry and mining sector. The corporative philosophy is underpinned by the triple S strategy that consist of develop solutions to companies for designing and implementation of sustainable systems for improving their processes, technology, and for exploring new circular economy models based on the valorization of their by-products. Asides, Ecocastulum is strongly encouraging a new Engineering Discipline for the recovery of raw materials from mining and industrial waste, and developing new advanced materials with improved features from recycled raw materials leading to new Sustainability Models.

We provide cutting-edge solutions that bridge the gap between virtual and physical realities, all while exploring the fascinating realm of metaphysics. We specialize in providing advanced technologies and expertise to the manufacturing, construction, automotive, semiconductor, and ICT sectors.

Tapojärvi is a global pioneer in the industrial circular economy and processes large quantities of materials in a continuous process. We are a 70-year-old growth-oriented family-owned group and we have 1000 employees. We operate in Finland, Sweden, Italy and Greece. Our customers are from the mining and steel industries. Our goal is to be the world's leading industrial circular economy company by 2035. To achieve our goal, we carry out intensive research, development and innovation work and have an extensive network of expertise across Europe.

The Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC) is the leading organization in fostering innovation, sustainability, and collaboration among the EU's strategic partners in mining and raw materials value chains in the Iberian Peninsula. ISMC comprising 85 members, including companies (both SMEs and large enterprises), as well as professional organizations, universities, and research centers. ISMC supports public and private entities to respond to ongoing challenges of raw materials supply and demand and become a hub for uniting key stakeholders to promote innovative solutions for a sustainable development and circular economy practices within the raw materials industries. The cluster brings proven and extensive expertise in dissemination and communication within the raw materials sector, having served as leaders in this capacity across European (EU) funded projects in H2020 and Horizon Europe, such as MADITRACE, S34i, Li4LIFE, and DEXPLORE. ISMC's role in EU funded projects extends beyond dissemination and communication, as it actively participates in training and education, and technical assistance at European level. ISMC operates a cluster working group dedicated to regional, national and international training and educational activities in the raw materials sector. These activities reinforce its commitment to capacity building and institutional strengthening in the raw materials industries.

GIG-PIB is Polish research institute supervised by the Ministry of Industry, located in Katowice and connected to the mining industry and the region of Upper Silesia since 1945. Activities of the Institute encompass the key aspects of mining and geoengineering, industrial safety, and environmental engineering - particularly the protection of the environment from the impacts of industrial activities. The Institute engages in educational and training activities, certification, and provides services such as research, expert opinions and analyses for various branches of industry, institutions, local and state administrative offices, and international partners.

The corporate purpose is the exploitation, research and extraction of mineral resources and substances, the establishment and organization of industries related to these activities, and the production of mining-industrial and chemical products.

The Fraunhofer-Society consists of 76 institutes and is the world's leading applied research organization. Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE is committed to promote sustainable, economic, and socially sound energy supply systems based on renewable energies in close cooperation with industry and universities. The group 'Water Treatment and Separation - WTS' has more than 15 years of experience in desalination, industrial wastewater treatment, and brine treatment. The research work reaches out from simulation model design, via experimental laboratory setups to design, construction, and operation of components, laboratory systems and demonstration plants in real environments. The extraction of critical raw materials as Lithium and Copper is already conducted in other projects and is planned to be extended as strategic collaboration topic with Fraunhofer Chile Research.

Hannukainen Mining, owned by Tapojärvi, was established in 2015 to utilize the ore reserves of the Hannukainen ore deposit located in the municipality of Kolari, Finland. Mining operations will primarily be carried out in areas that have already been mined by other companies. The goal of this project is to create permanent, full-time jobs and diversify livelihood services in Lapland for at least the next twenty years.

EUROCORE Consulting sprl, a Member of the GEP Group. We are a young, fast-growing company providing multi-sectoral expert consultancy and professional technical support to firms and organizations in the private and public sectors. EUROCORE Consulting shares the core capacity of its mother company GEP, making Occupational Health and Safety a primary area of its competence. EUROCORE Consulting expertise extends to other areas of science and engineering providing specialist multidisciplinary support, as required. These other thematic interests comprise Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Sources, Environmental Impacts and Protection, Sustainable Management of Resources and Eco-Applications.