The 4th of June 2024 a kick-off meeting took place in Košice (Slovakia), where the WIDEX consortium partners, beneficiaries of Horizon Europe funding, met and presented their role within the project: the Technical University of Košice (TUKE, Coordinator), ICAMCYL Foundation, the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster, MNLT Innovations, Fraunhofer IKTS, IDENER, Consentia, Lapland UAS, Polê Avenia, the EIT Raw Materials CLS East and the Košice Regional Government.
WIDEX is a 36-month European Project set to tackle one of the most pressing issues for Europe’s economy: the critical need for minerals and elements, particularly in strategic sectors.
With the demand for new and essential materials rising and primary raw material mining activities decreasing, it’s crucial to find sustainable solutions within European borders. The European Raw Materials Act highlights this need, emphasizing the importance of green and non-invasive technologies for the recovery and refinement of CRMs.
Košice, with its rich geological reserves, is the perfect location to spearhead this initiative. The collaboration between TUKE, a distinguished mining university and a primary reference center in Slovakia, and leading research institutions aims to bridge the research and innovation gap in the EU.
Horizon Europe supports efforts to reduce disparities in R&D performance across the EU through the Advancing Europe Package, specifically the Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence (WIDENING) initiative, which receives 3.3% of the total Horizon Europe budget and plays a central role in strengthening the European Research Area. This initiative builds on the four main instruments from H2020 (TEAMING, TWINNING, ERA Chairs, and COST) and introduces new instruments, activities, and services.
The WIDENING instrument TWINNING, through which the WIDEX EU Project was established, focuses on institutional networking, exchange of best practices, enhancing management and administrative skills, and elevating the research profile of institutions.
Additionally, WIDEX will foster the creation of a new cluster in Central Europe, an excellent Virtual Centre, and a Stakeholder platform dedicated to the green and non-invasive technologies ecosystem.
