REMINE - Valorization of mining and other mineral wastes into construction materials

By project REMIX

Published on 16 July 2018

Portugal

Centro (PT)

About this good practice

The REMINE H2020-MSCA-RISE action aims to promote international and inter-sector collaboration through research and innovation staff exchanges, share knowledge and ideas from research to market (and vice-versa) and the development of innovation within the recycling and valorization of mining and quarrying wastes particularly by alkali activation. REMINE project collaborations and network resulted in the development of a spin-off named eCO2blocks, that won the international competition from Climate-KIC, ClimateLaunchpad Grand Final, in Edimburg, Nov. 2018. The main advantages of this material is that it has no CO2 emissions, does not require drinking water, has the same resistance and its production is ten times faster, furthermore its raw material are deposits of mining facilities, currently being seen as waste and an environmental problem. The network of researchers across Europe allowed the intersection of different types of knowledge to generate Innovative materials that are clearly in line with Circular Economy principles. The fact that this type of networks are created with the clear purpose of developing new and innovative solutions using by-products/waste of the mining industries, makes this type of project a good practice that others can learn and replicate not only the use of the technique developed but also the way the results were achieved (through the aggregation of knowledge coming from a network of European Researchers from different fields.

Resources needed

The funding of network H2020-MSCA-RISE-2014-64569-REMINE involve coordination by Beira Interior University (PT) + 8 European partners, during 4 years - €567,000. For the replication and use of the techniques developed and spin-off take to market – 1M€.

Evidence of success

Techniques developed can be used in other mining waste materials –REMINE project resulted in the development of a spin-off named eCO2blocks that won the international competition ClimateLaunchpad in Edimburg, 2018. On-line business contacts is an indicator of success.
High added value networks of researchers and mining industries contribute to growing circular economy principles since these new approaches are able to turn waste in a good and even have more efficiency than current goods.

Potential for learning or transfer

The techniques developed may be used in other contexts with other mining waste materials that can be of great added value to the construction industry, in an era where climate change challenges decisions makers to foster innovative solutions targeted to increase resilience to climate change. Projects using the technologies developed under REMINE can now be replicated to other contexts and mining industries across Europe, so that new materials coming from waste can not only contribute to climate change resilience of the planet, but also can contribute for the development of Circular Economy models of doing business generating new in-comes coming from waste.
The fact that these different fields researchers and business from 9 EU countries got together in a project, leveraged the potential of mining waste and the support of this type of networks can be seen as a good practice that regional bodies can use as a strategy to look at old and waste mining facilities.