pär weihed centre for advanced mining & metallurgy luleå university of technology

Exploratory workshop for a deepened RDI (Research & Development & Innovation) Barents cooperation in the field of minerals and metals

Luleå, September 14-15, 2011

Pär WeihedCentre for Advanced Mining & MetallurgyLuleå University of Technology

*Education along the metals and minerals value chain in

the Barents region – a call for joint actions from

universities in the Barents region



*Sustainable supply in the EU (Bullets 32-46)

* 37: …recalls Parliament's resolution of 20 January 2011 on a sustainable EU policy for the High North and calls, in this regard, on the Commission, in accordance with the precautionary principle, to assess the possibilities of environmentally sustainable exploitation of sensitive areas that might be valuable suppliers of essential RM, such as the Arctic, the Barents Region and Greenland and, if possible, extend existing partnership agreements with the countries in these regions Text adopted P7_TA(2011)0024.

* 39: …Notes that the northern European countries and the Barents Region have substantial deposits of ores and minerals, and forests; believes that the northern European region can make a substantial contribution to the RM supply needs of other European companies and thereby reduce European import dependence; believes that there is a clear need to increase awareness of the potential of northern Europe in the ongoing discussion over RM.



*Why? Trade policy perspective

*Raw materials industry one of the Barents region major net export providers*The Barents region a leading European metal and

minerals supplier*The Barents region is the most expansive area in

Europe concerning investments in exploration and mining*The Barents region will in the longer perspective have

an increased geopolitical role for global trade Europe-Asia*Raw materials currently have a strong focus within EU

(cf. RMI, critical metals report, EU2020-EIP etc.)



*Why? Business policy

perspective

* The Barents region a leading European metal and minerals supplier

*Raw materials currently have a strong focus within EU (cf. RMI, critical metals report, EU2020-EIP etc.

* The Barents region provides the best geological potential in Europe for new discoveries

*Mining industry is a driver for economic and regional growth in the Barents region (SME-establishment in downstream industry)

*Mining and exploration industry create employment opportunities in regions where the resources exists (i.e. “outsourcing” not possible)

* Finding skilled labour is a major challenge for mining and exploration industry



*Why? Research and

education policy perspective

*Finding skilled labour is a major challenge for mining and exploration industry*Nordic RDI within mining and minerals world leading*Barents cluster could be strongest in Europe within the

sector*Most universities in the Nordic countries (and western

Russia) with focus towards exploration and mining and metals are based within or close to the Barents region *A strong need for focussing and create critical mass in

RDI to maintain competitive education and research *Established cooperation is already in place between

universities (cf. Nordic Mining School)



Sustainable development

Environmental protection agencies

NGO’sIndustry

Labour org.

Geological surveys

Communities

Regional administration

Universities, R&D Institutes

Indigenous groups org.

EU

National governments, conflicting interests ???



Universities & Research institutes related to metals and minerals

Ongoing disc.;NTNU. LTU, Oulu Uni., Sintef, Tromsö Uni.

Other RDI providers in the region



NationalPrograms

Nordic/BarentsProgram

sEU

Programs

Norwegian research council – MINFORSKVinnova – Mining research programTEKES – Green mining

Nordic-Barents ?BEAC, BRC, NCM

ERANET

FP7-8



Nordic Mining SchoolA joint initiative between Luleå University of Technology and Oulu University

for advanced extractive technology and natural resource management



Nordic Mining SchoolFunded for 2008–2012 by INTERREG IVA NordAims:

To bring the students at masters level in both universities together – critical mass

Build the best graduate school in mining related education in EuropeStrengthen the research cooperation in mining, exploration and environmental engineering, mineral processing, metallurgy, process engineering



Students enroll in a relevant masters program at either of the universities and spend at least 6 months of their studies at the other university and qualify for a double degree from the Nordic Mining School

Opportunity for an internship where European mining is active and write a masters thesis co-supervised by mining, mineral, metallurgical or exploration industry



*The Call! A Nordic/Barents

network for a deepened RDI in

minerals and metals

* Link between universities and research institutes along the value chain can form the basis for a North European centre of excellence in metals and minerals

*Utilize existing structures, national, Nordic, Barents region(cf. Nordic Mining School, CAMM)

* Find Nordic/Barents funding structures for networking and long term financing (i.e. NOT PROJECTIFIED)

* Investment in long term supply of skilled labour at all levels needs long term commitment in a triple helix context



42. Stresses the importance of skills and training and the role played by geologists, engineers, miners and other personnel; calls on the Commission and the Member States to engage in a close dialogue with the social partners, academia and industry in this context; calls on the Commission to identify the need for, and availability of, trained personnel in the field of RM R&D, extraction, refining, processing and recycling by 2012 and to share the findings with the European Parliament; calls on the Commission and Member States, in collaboration with industry and academia, to support education on RM via the establishment of special university programmes and scholarships; further supports, in this context, exchange programmes in this field such as the Erasmus Mundus Minerals and Environmental Programme;

*Thank you!

pär weihed centre for advanced mining & metallurgy luleå university of technology

Documents

miningthe barents region

northern european region

field of minerals

minerals supplierraw

northern european countries

minerals value chain

sustainable eu policy

european companies