RESOURCES COMPUTING INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

Their core work

RCI is a UK-based SME specializing in computing and data solutions for the raw materials and mining sectors. They provide technical expertise in areas such as mineral exploration, geological surveying, and resource assessment, with a growing focus on robotics applications for mining environments. Their work bridges digital technology with extractive industries, contributing software, data processing, and computing capabilities to European research consortia tackling sustainable mining and mineral resource challenges.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

RCI's trajectory shows a clear shift from broad raw materials policy toward hands-on robotics for mining. Their earliest project (INTRAW, 2015) focused on international cooperation, research frameworks, and education in raw materials — a strategic and policy-oriented role. By 2016-2019, they moved into autonomous underwater robotics with UNEXMIN, and their most recent and largest project (ROBOMINERS, 2019-2023) centers on modular robotic miners, signaling a firm commitment to field robotics applied to mineral extraction.

RCI is moving decisively toward autonomous robotics for mineral exploration and mining, with increasing project budgets reflecting deeper technical involvement.

How they like to work

RCI operates exclusively as a consortium participant — they have not coordinated any H2020 projects, suggesting they contribute specialized expertise rather than lead large research agendas. With 58 unique partners across 30 countries from just 3 projects, they work in large, internationally diverse consortia. This broad network indicates they are comfortable operating in complex multi-partner environments and are well-connected across European raw materials and mining research communities.

Despite only 3 projects, RCI has built an impressively wide network of 58 partners spanning 30 countries, reflecting the large consortium sizes typical in raw materials research. Their reach is genuinely global, consistent with their involvement in international cooperation projects.

What sets them apart

RCI sits at an uncommon intersection: computing and data expertise applied specifically to mining robotics and mineral exploration. While many SMEs in the raw materials space focus on geology or engineering, RCI brings the digital and computing side — resource modelling, data processing, and software for robotic systems operating in extreme environments like flooded mines. For consortium builders, they fill the gap between hardware-focused robotics teams and the data analysis needed to make autonomous mining viable.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ROBOMINERS
  Their largest project by far (EUR 835K), developing bio-inspired modular robots for mining — represents their current strategic direction.
• UNEXMIN
  Pioneering autonomous underwater exploration of flooded mines, combining robotics with geological surveying in extreme environments.