Pan-European geologist federation active in raw materials policy, geothermal energy, and responsible mineral exploration across 42 countries.
The European Federation of Geologists (EFG) is a Brussels-based professional association representing national geological societies across Europe. They coordinate policy input, professional standards, and training frameworks for the geoscience profession. In H2020, they serve as the voice of practicing geologists — contributing expertise on raw materials policy, mineral resource governance, and geothermal energy development. Their role is typically to bridge the gap between geological science and European policy, ensuring that industry professionals and regulators have access to shared knowledge frameworks.
Central to their portfolio — INTRAW (coordinator), MINATURA 2020, MICA, FORAM, Minland, INFACT, intermin, ROBOMINERS, VAMOS, and SUMEX all address raw materials strategy, exploration, or sustainable extraction.
CHPM2030 explored combined heat/power/metal extraction from deep ore bodies, CROWDTHERMAL (coordinator) focused on community-based geothermal schemes, and REFLECT addressed geothermal fluid properties at extreme conditions.
INTRAW coordinated international cooperation on raw materials education, intermin built an international network of training centres, and KINDRA inventoried hydrogeology research knowledge.
VAMOS developed alternative mine operating systems, UNEXMIN built autonomous underwater mine explorers, and ROBOMINERS created bio-inspired modular robotic miners.
CROWDTHERMAL focused on community-based development and social engagement, INFACT addressed acceptable exploration technologies, and SUMEX worked on Social License to Operate.
In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), EFG focused heavily on raw materials intelligence — mapping mineral deposits, building knowledge inventories, and fostering international cooperation on resource policy (INTRAW, KINDRA, MINATURA 2020, MICA). From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward social dimensions of resource extraction and geothermal energy — community engagement, social license to operate, professional training networks, and renewable geothermal development (CROWDTHERMAL, SUMEX, intermin). There is a clear evolution from "cataloguing what's in the ground" to "how do we extract it responsibly and with public support."
EFG is moving toward community engagement and responsible resource governance, making them an increasingly relevant partner for projects that need to address public acceptance of mining or geothermal operations.
EFG overwhelmingly operates as a consortium partner (13 of 15 projects) rather than a leader, having coordinated only INTRAW and CROWDTHERMAL. With 181 unique partners across 42 countries, they are a major network hub — their pan-European membership gives them reach into nearly every EU country and beyond. This makes them particularly valuable as a dissemination and professional engagement partner who can mobilize the geoscience community across borders.
EFG has collaborated with 181 unique partners across 42 countries, reflecting their role as a pan-European professional federation. Their geographic reach extends well beyond the EU, consistent with their international cooperation mandate in raw materials and geoscience.
EFG is the only pan-European federation of professional geologists active in H2020, giving them unmatched reach into the practicing geoscience community across 40+ countries. Unlike universities or research institutes that contribute scientific output, EFG contributes professional network access, policy expertise, and the ability to mobilize thousands of practicing geologists for dissemination, training, or consultation. For any consortium needing a credible link between geological research and the professionals who apply it in the field, EFG is the obvious partner.
