Raw materials are the basis of most industrial value chains. This is especially true for the industrial and metallic mining, construction, and related sectors.

These industries are very important for industrial, social, and technological progress in the European Union. Viable and responsible mining of minerals and metals provides essential assets for sustainable development, and helps to promote innovation, growth, and a low-carbon, more circular economy.

MINE.THE.GAP project

MINE.THE.GAP helps to increase sustainability in European mining value chains and offers SMEs the opportunity to apply their cutting-edge technologies in new settings related to the circular economy, resource efficiency and advanced manufacturing. 

The project aims to establish new collaborations between SMEs from the mining and raw materials sector and the fields of ICT, advanced manufacturing, resource efficiency, and the circular economy.

It offers SMEs a collaboration platform to find partners for new project proposals. By creating a MINE.THE.GAP profile, SMEs can access this internal space, present themselves, and search for companies interested in participating in MINE.THE.GAP open calls.

Open call

MINE.THE.GAP provides direct financial support for SMEs through innovation vouchers. These vouchers are dedicated to strategic planning, validation of ideas, and proof of concept.

Vouchers will be distributed through two open calls during the MINE.THE.GAP project lifetime. You can find all the details on the first open call for the MINE-PoC and MINE-Demo vouchers below.

MINE-PoC

The MINE-PoC voucher aims to fund projects for the design and implementation of a prototype or a proof of concept to demonstrate the feasibility of a proposed solution. This voucher has to address at least one of the top 10 challenges and needs of the raw materials and mining value chain (see the Guide for Applicants or the MINE.THE.GAP Objectives), while focusing on at least one of the ‘Key Actions’, in order to be funded.

What´s in it for SMEs?

• Funding of €25,000 per SME
• Expected Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) for projects funded under this call: TRL 6–7
• Type of financial support: Lump sum
• Project duration: 9 months
• Project start: 1 September 2021

MINE-Demo

The MINE-Demo voucher will fund projects for the development and testing of a simple functional demo/pilot in a production environment, with all the major features of the product/service/solution.

This voucher has to address at least one of the top 10 challenges and needs of the raw materials and mining value chain (see the Guide for Applicants or the MINE.THE.GAP Objectives), while focusing on at least one of the ‘Key Actions’, in order to be funded.

What´s in it for SMEs?

• Funding of €50,000 per SME
• Expected TRLs for projects funded under this call: TRL 7–8
• Type of financial support: Lump sum
• Project duration: 12 months
• Project start: 1 September 2021

Applications for the vouchers can be made through the MINE.THE.GAP website by submitting completed open call documents before 5 May 17:00 CEST. Find out more and apply here.

Horizon 2020