INSTITUTUL NATIONAL DE CERCETARE-DEZVOLTARE PENTRU METALE NEFEROASE SIRARE-IMNR

Their core work

IMNR is Romania's national research institute for non-ferrous and rare metals, specializing in hydrometallurgical processing of complex and low-grade ores. They extract valuable metals (copper, zinc, lead, silver, gold, cobalt, indium, antimony) from primary ores and increasingly from secondary sources like mining waste. Their core competence lies in developing recovery processes — bioleaching, pressure leaching, alkaline leaching — that make economically marginal or waste-stream materials viable. More recently, they have expanded into advanced materials for energy harvesting, including nano-structured piezoelectric and thermoelectric systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015-2018), IMNR focused squarely on classical metallurgy — extracting metals from primary ores using hydrometallurgical techniques like pressure leaching and bioleaching (INTMET). By the later period (2018-2024), their work shifted toward circular economy applications — recovering critical raw materials and REE from mining waste (NEMO) and branching into nanomanufacturing for energy harvesting (FAST-SMART). This evolution shows a deliberate move from raw material extraction toward higher-value, sustainability-oriented materials science.

IMNR is moving from traditional metallurgy toward circular raw materials recovery and functional nanomaterials, making them increasingly relevant for green transition and critical materials security projects.

How they like to work

IMNR operates primarily as a specialist partner (4 of 6 projects as participant or third party), contributing deep metallurgical expertise to larger consortia rather than leading them. They coordinated one project (SUPERMAT), suggesting they can lead when the topic aligns closely with their core mission. With 92 unique partners across 26 countries, they are well-connected across Europe and comfortable working in large, multinational consortia.

IMNR has collaborated with 92 distinct partners across 26 countries, giving them a broad European network that spans well beyond the Eastern European region. This reach reflects the international nature of raw materials and metallurgy research consortia.

What sets them apart

IMNR brings a rare combination of traditional metallurgical processing know-how and emerging nanomaterials capability, anchored in decades of institutional experience with non-ferrous and rare metals. For consortium builders, they offer hands-on pilot-scale hydrometallurgy and bioleaching capacity — not just modelling or theory — which is hard to find outside of industry. As a Romanian national institute, they also strengthen geographic diversity for EU proposals while delivering genuine technical depth in raw materials processing.

Highlights from their portfolio

• INTMET
  Largest single grant (EUR 370,001), directly aligned with IMNR's core metallurgical expertise in processing polymetallic and low-grade ores.
• NEMO
  Demonstrates the circular economy pivot — recovering critical metals and REE from mining waste while producing construction materials, a strong sustainability narrative.
• FAST-SMART
  Signals a strategic expansion into nanomanufacturing and energy harvesting, a significant departure from their traditional metals focus.