SIEC BADAWCZA LUKASIEWICZ - INSTYTUT METALI NIEZELAZNYCH

Their core work

IMN (Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals) is a Polish research center specializing in the extraction, processing, and recycling of non-ferrous and critical raw materials. Their core work spans hydrometallurgy, mineral processing, and urban mining — recovering valuable metals from both primary ores and end-of-life products like electronics. They bring applied metallurgical expertise to EU consortia tackling Europe's raw material supply challenges, from deep ore bioleaching to substituting critical materials in automotive aluminium alloys.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

IMN's early H2020 work (2015-2018) centered on urban mining and electronics recycling — recovering technology metals from printed circuit boards and mobile phones through automated disassembly. From 2016 onward, their focus shifted toward primary ore processing using hydrometallurgical methods (pressure leaching, bioleaching) for low-grade and polymetallic deposits. Their most recent projects (2019-2024) show a clear pivot toward critical raw materials substitution and circular economy applications in the automotive/EV sector, signaling alignment with EU strategic autonomy priorities.

IMN is moving from waste-focused metal recovery toward strategic raw material substitution for the EV supply chain — a direction with strong EU policy tailwinds and growing industry demand.

How they like to work

IMN operates exclusively as a consortium partner, never as coordinator, which positions them as a trusted technical contributor rather than a project driver. With 120 unique partners across 23 countries from just 8 projects, they join large, multi-national consortia — averaging 15+ partners per project. This broad network suggests they are valued for specialized metallurgical expertise that complements larger teams, making them easy to integrate into new consortia without competing for leadership.

IMN has built a wide European network of 120 unique partners across 23 countries through 8 projects, reflecting their consistent participation in large raw-materials consortia. Their reach spans most of the EU, with strong connections to the Central European mining and metallurgy research community.

What sets them apart

IMN covers the full non-ferrous metals value chain — from primary ore extraction through hydrometallurgy to secondary recovery from e-waste and end-of-life products. Few research institutes combine deep expertise in both mining-side processing (bioleaching, flotation) and recycling-side recovery (urban mining, disassembly). For consortium builders, they offer a single partner that bridges primary and secondary raw material sourcing, which is increasingly important as EU policy demands integrated circular approaches to critical materials.

Highlights from their portfolio

• ADIR
  IMN's largest H2020 grant (EUR 687k) — automated disassembly and recovery of technology metals from electronics, combining robotics with metallurgy.
• SALEMA
  Their most recent project (2021-2024), targeting CRM substitution in aluminium alloys for electric vehicles — signals their strategic direction toward the EV supply chain.
• INTMET
  Integrated hydrometallurgical processing of polymetallic ores using multiple leaching techniques — showcases their core competence in advanced metal extraction.