GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA - PANSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY

Their core work

Poland's Central Mining Institute is a national research institute based in Katowice — the heart of the Upper Silesian coal region — specializing in subsurface geology, CO2 geological storage, and radiation protection. Their core work involves characterizing underground reservoirs (depleted gas fields, saline aquifers) for carbon capture and storage, and assessing environmental and radiological risks of energy-related activities. They provide reservoir engineering expertise, geochemical analysis, and field characterization for pilot-scale CO2 storage projects across Europe. Their mining heritage gives them deep practical knowledge of subsurface operations that translates directly into CCUS and hydrogen storage applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

Their early H2020 work (2015-2017) centered on laboratory infrastructure for CCS (ECCSEL) and foundational radiation research (CONCERT), along with geophysical infrastructure (EPOS IP). From 2019 onward, the focus sharpened toward applied CCUS deployment — strategic regional planning for carbon storage clusters, pilot-scale geological storage, and hydrogen underground storage. The shift shows a clear move from infrastructure-building and basic research toward field-scale implementation and energy transition applications, with a growing interest in open data practices and societal acceptance of subsurface technologies.

Moving from laboratory-scale CCS research toward field deployment of CO2 and hydrogen storage, positioning themselves as a key subsurface expertise provider for Europe's decarbonization infrastructure.

How they like to work

GIG operates exclusively as a participant or third-party contributor — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which positions them as a reliable technical partner rather than a project leader. With 218 unique consortium partners across 31 countries, they plug into large, multi-national consortia where specialized subsurface expertise is needed. Their recurring presence in infrastructure and pilot projects suggests they are valued for deep technical contributions rather than project management, making them a low-risk addition to consortia needing geological or reservoir engineering expertise.

Extensive European network spanning 218 partners across 31 countries, built through participation in large-scale infrastructure and coordination projects. Their network is particularly strong in Central and Eastern European energy research communities, reflecting the CCUS focus on Southern and Eastern Europe.

What sets them apart

GIG brings a rare combination: decades of practical mining and subsurface operations experience from Poland's coal heartland, combined with modern CCUS and hydrogen storage research capabilities. For consortium builders, they offer credible Eastern European representation with genuine technical depth — not just geographic coverage. Their dual expertise in both CO2 storage and radiation protection makes them unusually versatile for energy transition projects that must address multiple environmental risk dimensions.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RadoNorm
  Their largest H2020 project by far (EUR 630K) — a major European radiation protection initiative covering exposure, dosimetry, and societal risk dimensions.
• PilotSTRATEGY
  Active CO2 geological storage pilot project (EUR 335K, running until 2026) focused on field characterization and storage capacity assessment at strategic European sites.
• HyStorIES
  Represents their expansion into hydrogen underground storage — applying established subsurface expertise to the emerging hydrogen economy.