FUNDACION ICAMCYL

Their core work

ICAMCYL is a Spanish research centre in León (Castilla y León) focused on advanced materials and raw materials, particularly for the mining and metallurgy sector. They develop recovery technologies for critical and refractory metals from mining waste and end-of-life products, and apply machine learning to materials discovery. Their work bridges extractive metallurgy with high-value applications in aerospace, electromobility, and circular economy, positioning them as a regional centre of excellence connecting raw materials research to industrial value chains.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

ICAMCYL's early H2020 work (2017–2019) centred on participating in large consortia around mining regions, CSP materials, and recovery of refractory metals from waste streams — primarily as a junior partner. From 2020 onward, they shifted to coordinating their own projects and broadened into machine learning for materials design (MALTOSE), regional SME value chain creation (MINE.THE.GAP), and selective CRM extraction (RUMBA). This evolution shows a centre growing from a niche metallurgy participant into a more autonomous research hub linking raw materials science with digital tools and industrial strategy.

ICAMCYL is moving toward digitally-driven materials research (ML/AI) while deepening its role as a regional coordinator for raw materials innovation in SME ecosystems.

How they like to work

ICAMCYL operates as both a consortium partner (6 projects) and coordinator (3 projects), with their coordination role growing over time — all three coordinated projects started in 2020 or later. They work across large consortia (119 unique partners, 23 countries), indicating broad network reach rather than repeat-partner loyalty. This suggests an organisation that is well-connected and comfortable integrating into diverse European teams, while increasingly confident in leading projects themselves.

With 119 unique consortium partners across 23 countries, ICAMCYL has built a wide European network despite being a relatively young player (active from 2017). Their partnerships span mining regions, materials research institutes, and industrial SMEs across the EU.

What sets them apart

ICAMCYL sits at the intersection of raw materials extraction and advanced materials application — a combination few centres cover end-to-end. Based in a mining region (León, Castilla y León), they bring practical understanding of extractive industries paired with research capabilities in materials science and machine learning. For consortium builders, they offer a rare profile: a Spanish research centre that can connect mining/metallurgy fundamentals with high-tech applications in aerospace, electromobility, and digital materials discovery.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MINE.THE.GAP
  Their largest project (EUR 3.5M as coordinator) — built industrial value chains connecting raw materials SMEs across European mining regions, demonstrating their capacity to lead major multi-sector initiatives.
• MALTOSE
  A strategic pivot: coordinated project applying machine learning and genetic algorithms to organic semiconductor design, signalling ICAMCYL's expansion into AI-driven materials discovery.
• PASSENGER
  Addresses the critical EU priority of rare-earth-free permanent magnets for electromobility — positions ICAMCYL in the strategic autonomy agenda for Europe's green transition.