The European Federation of Geologists is proud to announce the start of its project INFACT. This new EU-funded research project establishes reference areas for trialling new exploration technology in Germany, Finland and Spain.
Europe is about to become more attractive for the exploration of raw materials. Partners drawn from research and industry plan to develop innovative, non-invasive technologies and test them under realistic conditions. For this purpose, three European reference areas are to be established in Germany (Geyer), Finland (Sakatti) and Spain (Minas de Ríotinto, Gerena). To this end, the EU is investing around 5.6 million euros over the next three years in INFACT, a new research project in which EFG and 16 partners have joined forces. The project is being coordinated by the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf.
Because the ore deposits of tomorrow are located in remote regions and deep underground, detecting these metal and mineral resources poses an ever-greater challenge in terms of technology. At the same time, the success of new exploration projects increasingly depends on the extent to which as many interest groups as possible from civil society can be brought on board. INFACT (Innovative, Non-Invasive and Fully Acceptable Exploration Technologies) brings partners from science and research, industry, government agencies and non-profit organizations into contact with local populations directly affected by exploration. Working in collaboration, these stakeholders aim to develop, exchange and disseminate environmentally-friendly technologies.
EFG leads the work package on dissemination and impact creation and several of the Federation’s National Associations will be actively involved in the project as Linked Third Parties.
The project’s kick-off meeting was held in Berlin from 4 to 6 December 2017.
The INFACT consortium members at the project’s kick-off meeting in Berlin.
More information is available in the press release.
