New RIC management: Robert Obenaus-Emler

We are very glad that Robert Obenaus-Emler was officially appointed Head of the Resources Innovation Center by the Rectorate of the Montanuniversität Leoben on 14 March 2024.

At the same time, the RIC Leoben was confirmed as one of the seven “Clusters of Excellence” at the research centre of the University.

DIM ESEE – Innovation in Mineral Extraction Summer School

The DIM ESEE 2023 Innovation workshop 18 – 20 October 2023 was again held in Dubrovnik/Croatia.

We enjoyed high-quality lectures from multiple experts in the field of raw materials, great networking and innovative ideas for the future in mining.
This year, the scientific program was organised by the RIC Leoben team, including topics related to digitalization and data processing, underground and surface mineral extraction, and robotics in mining. Additionally, industry experts from Austin Powder, Dok-Ing, Epiroc, and Sandvik provided fascinating insights into the future of mineral extraction.
More details: https://dim-esee.eu/

Assessment Report on Climate Change for Austria (AAR2)

Montanuniversität Leoben contributes to the first order draft of the second Assessment Report on Climate Change for Austria (AAR2) which is currently being prepared. The RIC Leoben Climate Actions team is contributing to the review of the scientific report. The aim of the AAR2 is to assess the state of knowledge on climate change in Austria and its consequences, as well as to identify mitigation potentials and strategies, adaptation options and transformation pathways.
Knowledge gaps are to be closed in the sense of a climate-neutral society. The report shall be published in summer 2025. The project is based on the processes of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and is relevant for the implementation of the 13 SDG targets.

PROMISE – Master program for Sustainable Mineral Processing

PROMISE is an international 24 months Joint Master’s program in Sustainable Mineral and Metal Processing Engineering, aiming at advancing the mineral processing sector into a sustainable future. Up to 84 Erasmus Mundus scholarships can be awarded, divided between four intakes.

Applications for the third intake are possible until 31st December 2023.

This program is ideally suited for Bachelors of mineral processing, mining, metallurgical and chemical engineering and other closely related studies.
The program offers full scholarship of EUR 1400 per month, additionally it covers all tuition fees at the four partner universities: University of Oulu (Finland), Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria), University of Zagreb (Croatia) and Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Chile).

More information on https://www.master-promise.eu/
Apply here: https://www.master-promise.eu/how-to-apply/

Project PRO-SLO kicked off to a flying start

Early November, the RIC team welcomed our project partners to officially kick off the PRO-SLO winter school project.
Additionally, during the EIT RawMaterials Expert Forum on Responsible Sourcing in Prague 7-8 December 2023, we presented a deep insight into the project’s ambition to train future leaders to master the complex issues of Social Licence to Operate (#SLO)!

Coordinated by the RIC Leoben Education team, an alliance of experts on the topic of SLO from research, universities and industry will design and deliver a tailored PhD school, based around challenges provided by the industry, facilitated by innovative teaching/learning methods.
We look forward to collaborating over the coming three years and beyond!

Project EdUp awarded

RIC is glad to support the ERASMUS+ project “EdUp”, coordinated by TU Bergakademie Freiberg, that aims at providing digital course contents and curricula upscaling opportunities for Ukrainian universities during the currently challenging period.

With EdUp, we will increase the already existing support activities that allow Ukrainian HEIs to keep up their study programmes by incorporating digital courses from partners and integrating them into their teaching. The project will offer a digital platform with new courses that cover already identified needs and increase the opportunities for UA partners to create digital courses. Within this project, RIC / Montanuniversität Leoben will provide a selection of education courses during the next two years.

Project “PRO-SLO” awarded

We are excited that EIT RawMaterials selected our project proposal “PRO-SLO” for funding! The aim of the winter school project “PRO-SLO – building PROfessional SLO Competence” is to bridge the gap between Raw Materials operations and economic, social and ethical discourse, and will provide the raw materials industry with future leaders who are competent and confident to master the complex processes of obtaining and maintaining a Social Licence to Operate (SLO) for their raw materials projects. We are very proud to coordinate a highly motivated expert consortium and look forward to collaborating over the coming three years and beyond!

Hydrogen and Carbon

Hydrogen is inevitably linked to carbon as a valuable material in to the research activities in the field of methane pyrolysis. About 120 scientists from 23 different organizational units of the Montanuniversität Leoben are currently working on topics within the Strategic Core Research Area (SCoRe A+ Hydrogen and Carbon). Networking of individual scientists from different disciplines creates fruitful collaborations. The recent H2C – Symposium gathered a wide audience to learn from 20 PhD candidates working on sustainable energy projects.
More info here.

Moreover, the RIC Leoben team co-organized, together with EURECA-PRO, a high-level Hydrogen and Carbon Summit to take place in Chania/Crete on 26 September 202

RIC Leoben Management Change

Peter Moser, who has initiated the Resources innovation Center Leoben (RIC) eight years ago, will start his new position as rector of Montanuniversität Leoben on 1 October 2023.
We are very proud and thankful to have had him positioning and supporting RIC Leoben and our EIT Raw Materials activities at a strategic level in many consortia and decision bodies.
Helmut Antrekowitsch, the new Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability will then also take over as the new leader of RIC Leoben, a great development!

DIM ESEE – Innovation in Mineral Extraction Summer School

18 – 20 October 2023 in Dubrovnik/Croatia

do you want to learn about the latest trends in mechanical hard rock excavation?
Then come to join us in Dubrovnik in October! The RIC team managed to invite
experts from SANDVIK and EPIROC who will present their latest technology!

There will also be machines for use at extremely low mining heights from DOK-ING, innovative blasting methods, as well as insights into research projects around mining with robots and microorganisms.
Get more details and apply here: https://dim-esee.eu/