EU Projects

Participating in Research Programmes of European Union

While Europe is at the leading edge of scientific research in many areas, it nevertheless finds it difficult to convert its scientific breakthroughs into innovative, competitive and sustainable products and services. Since the launch of the First Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development in 1984, the EU's institutions have been playing a driving role in organization of multidisciplinary trans-frontier cooperation.

The Seventh Framework Programme

www.kpk.gov.pl/ppt//
cordis.europa.eu/fp7/

years of realizing - 2007 - 2013
overall budget 54 mld €.

The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) bundles all research-related EU initiatives together under a common roof playing a crucial role in reaching the goals of growth, competitiveness and employment; along with a new Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) (przekierowanie na http://ec.europa.eu/cip/index_en.htm), Education and Training programmes, and Structural and Cohesion Funds for regional convergence and competitiveness. It is also a key pillar for the European Research Area (ERA).

 

The broad objectives of FP7 have been grouped into four categories: Cooperation, Ideas, People and Capacities. For each type of objective, there is a specific programme corresponding to the main areas of EU research policy. All specific programmes work together to promote and encourage the creation of European poles of (scientific) excellence.

The non-nuclear research activities of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are grouped under a specific programme with individual budget allocation.

FP7 is organized in four programmes corresponding to four basic components of European research:

• Cooperation
  Support will be given to the whole range of research activities carried out in trans-national cooperation, from collaborative projects and networks to the coordination of national research programmes. International cooperation between the EU and third countries is an integral part of this action.
  This action is industry-driven and organized in four sub-programmes: 

  • Collaborative research will constitute the bulk and the core of EU research funding

  • Joint Technology Initiatives will mainly be created on the basis of the work undertaken by the European Technology Platforms

  • Coordination of non-Community research programmes

  • International Cooperation

• Ideas
  This programme will enhance the dynamism, creativity and excellence of European research at the frontier of knowledge in all scientific and technological fields, including engineering, socio-economic sciences and the humanities. This action will be overseen by a European Research Council

• People
  Quantitative and qualitative strengthening of human resources in research and technology in Europe by putting into place a coherent set of Marie Curie actions

• Capacities
  The objective of this action is to support research infrastructures, research for the benefit of SMEs and the research potential of European regions (Regions of Knowledge) as well as to stimulate the realization of the full research potential (Convergence Regions) of the enlarged Union and build an effective and democratic European Knowledge society.

Each of these programmes will be the subject of a 'Specific programme. In addition, there will be a 'Specific programme' for the Joint Research Centre (non-nuclear activities) and one for Euratom nuclear research and training activities.

 

Within FP7 KGHM CUPRUM realizes following Projects:

Laguna – LBNO – Large Apparatus for Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics and Long Baseline Neutrino Oscillations

Project Laguna – LBNO

Presentation

 

I²Mine – Innovative Technologies and Concepts for the Intelligent Deep Mine of the Future

More: http://www.i2mine.eu/

 

ProMine - New products from nanoparts, the New sources of minerals in Europe.

Mineral Meltdown, not Economic Meltdown, says ProMine

In these times of economic downturn, it is encouraging to find a positive response to the situation, an industry looking ahead with vigor and confidence. The European Mining Industry is doing just that. Funded largely by the EU under the Seventh Framework Programme, ProMine "Nano-particle products from new mineral resources in Europe" a groundbreaking research and development initiative, will revitalize the industry, and foster new growth across the Union. The project will be developing nano-particle products from new European mineral resources, and is coordinated by the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). ProMine will be bringing together a consortium of 27 partners, from Finland, France, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Greece, the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal and Malta, all of whom will be gathering for the project launch in Espoo, Finland on the 14^th-15^th May.

ProMine will produce a cutting edge web-based information system, an invaluable tool for strategic forward planning' says Prof. Gabor Gaál, Project Scientific Coordinator of GTK, adding 'we are looking at economic benefits topping 100 billion Euros, with new resources and processes being partnered by new product development, right through to end user testing.

An example is nano-silicas, which would be used in the production of a new range of coatings for ink jet papers. This added value component will have far reaching benefits for balance sheets Europewide, and will lead to much needed job creation within the Union'.

Highlighting its association with European Minerals Day (EMD), the ProMine launch will take place in tandem with the Czech EMD event in May. The link between the projects goes beyond mineral resources, however, with ProMine reflecting EMD's current focus on biodiversity and sustainability. By placing these considerations at the heart of the project, ProMine shows the mining industry is moving with the times and appreciates that these concerns are inextricably linked with long term economic viability.

To reduce environmental impact, ProMine will be developing innovative methods of extraction, and reducing processing wastes by 10 to 20%. Waste products themselves will be utilized as raw materials, and new processes will work towards zero waste status. This will revolutionize the industry, addressing the primary concerns of the 21^st century, both in terms of resource supply and good practice.

In addition to enhanced job security, local communities will be actively involved through the consultative process embodied in ProMine's objectives. Throughout the project, community views will be considered, reflecting ProMine's firm commitment to ensuring the funds will reap far reaching and sustainable benefits, both economically and socially.

Professor Gaál, adds, 'As a backdrop, it is worth considering that the European Union currently consumes 30% of metal production worldwide, and in a climate of soaring mineral and ore costs, ProMine aims to reduce the EU's reliance on imports through increased output. The benefits are self evident, but can perhaps be highlighted by the example of zinc, which rose in cost by 300% between 2004 and 2007.' So, in addition to new job opportunities and renewed job security within the industry, increased self reliance will have considerable other economical and political benefits for the Union as a whole'.

 

IRIS - Integrated European Industrial Risk Reduction

Risk Assessment For Tailings Ponds - Pdf brochure

More: http://www.vce.at/iris/

 

Laguna - Design of a pan-European Infrastructure for Large Apparatus studying Grand Unification and Neutrino Astrophysics

 

PREVIOUS PROJECTS WITHIN FRAMEWORK PROGRAMMES:

The Fifth Framework Programme

www.npk.gov.pl
europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp5.html

KGHM CUPRUM Ltd Research & Development Centre actively took part in FP5, particularly in the scope of the third thematic programme "GROWTH". Among conducted research and development projects it is necessary to mention two RTD projects: LICYMIN and CLOTADAM, and two thematic networks: NESMI and LIFETIME.

LICYMIN

Life cycle assessment of mining projects for waste minimization and long term control of rehabilitated sites The project was aimed at developing a methodology to minimize the "full life-cycle" impact of metalliferrous mining projects, adopting an integrated approach to production and process design, and the costs involved. Specifically aimed at minerals production and processing, with the main objective being minimum waste and environmental impact within the physical boundaries of a given industrial complex, the concept "full life-cycle" referred to the industrial production process only.

CLOTADAM

Elaboration of Environmental and Engineering Effective Procedure for Closing Waste Facilities Mining was a principal industry within Europe for thousands of years and continues to provide growth potential and associated socio-economic benefits. The safe and environmentally storage of the process wastes in the tailings facility was an important cost for most mining projects, both during operation and post closure. Recent EU Landfill Directive COM (93) 275 was currently being adopted by regulators and potentially, tailings facility will represent a high proportion of capital expenditure at start up and significant liability post closure.

NESMI

Network on European Sustainable Mining and Processing Industries The priority objective of the network was to establish and develop European networking for the mining and mineral processing industries. This interactive network was joining together the different areas and branches involved under participation of important European mining and mineral processing companies, manufacturers, supplementary industries, facility producers, consulting and engineering companies, organizations and universities.

LIFETIME

Lifetime Engineering of Buildings and Civil Infrastructures The objective of the network was to contribute to European and world-wide development of more sustainable built environment. The network involved all key stakeholders of buildings and civil infrastructures, including mining, whose activities concerned investment planning, design, facility management and maintenance, reuse and recycling.

 

The Sixth Framework Programme

www.6pr.pl
europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6

KGHM CUPRUM Ltd Research & Development Centre, realized one project correspond environmental issues on main thematic proprieties of FP6:

BIOSHALE

BIOSHALE project aims at developing Biotechnology for a safe, clean and viable exploitation of black shale ores for metal production and at designing an innovative model of development of mining activities.

The main milestones of the project are the following:

• Evaluation of the geological resources (geological modelling);

• Selection of metal-bearing components & biological consortia to be tested;

• Assessment of bioprocessing methods and determination of complementary hydrometallurgical processing routes for metals recovery;

• Risk assessment relative to wastes management of the new processing routes;

• Techno-economic evaluation of new processes from mining to metal recovery including social and environmental impacts.