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The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has decided to fund a mineral sector Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) in order to focus on European raw materials needs. One of the six offices in Europe will be located in Otaniemi in Espoo. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Aalto University, the University of Oulu, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and Outotec have all invested in the preparation of the project. Tekes has also participated in funding the project preparations.

The EIT will invest about EUR 270 million in the EIT Raw Materials KIC in the first five years. The investment seeks new minerals sector business by activating the commercialization of research results, supporting the creation of new businesses, as well as arranging diverse forms of education. The aim is to create 10 000 new jobs in Europe, launch 50 vibrant, new companies and to train 8 000 new entrepreneurs.

The community involves over 120 companies, universities and research institutes across Europe. Finland is represented by Outotec, Metso, Spinverse and FIMECC, Aalto University, the University of Oulu and Lappeenranta University of Technology, as well as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and GTK. During the project's operation, the Finnish partners' annual amount of funding may rise to over EUR 10 million.

In addition to the centre in Espoo, EIT Raw Materials Co-location Centres are located in Luleå in Sweden, Leuven in Belgium, Wroclaw in Poland, Metz in France and Rome in Italy. The office for the legal entity set up for the Knowledge and Innovation Community will be located in Berlin.

In the initial stages EIT Raw Materials will focus on solving information technology, transport and energy sector needs as well as raw materials needs related to the production of machinery and equipment. The raw materials supply chain will be examined as a whole, from ore exploration at the mines and metals processing, through to recycling and replacing rare or harmful materials. 

‘The Finnish partners have invested a great deal in the preparations for the project, which has produced excellent results. The centre being established supports the Finnish Cleantech sector's mineral and business operations really well in Finland,’ says Director General Petri Peltonen from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

Further information:
Professor Outi Krause
tel. +358 50 384 1698
outi.krause@aalto.fi