SVERIGES GEOLOGISKA UNDERSOKNING

Their core work

SGU is Sweden's national geological survey, providing authoritative data and expertise on the country's mineral resources, groundwater, and subsurface geology. They map and assess mineral deposits, support sustainable land-use planning that accounts for geological resources, and contribute to European-wide geological information platforms. Their H2020 work centers on critical raw materials intelligence, mineral exploration technologies, and building pan-European geological service infrastructure.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SGU's early H2020 involvement (2015–2017) leaned toward geothermal energy, electrochemistry, and foundational raw materials networking through projects like CHPM2030, ProSUM, and SCRREEN. From 2017 onward, the focus shifted decisively toward applied mineral exploration — advanced instruments, geophysical modeling, and in-mine/borehole technologies (Smart Exploration, X-MINE) — alongside building pan-European geological data platforms (GeoERA). The trajectory shows a move from broad policy and networking toward hands-on exploration technology and geological service delivery.

SGU is deepening its applied exploration and geological data capabilities, making them an increasingly valuable partner for projects needing real subsurface data, mineral assessment, or European geological survey coordination.

How they like to work

SGU predominantly joins consortia as a participant (7 of 11 projects), contributing geological survey data and domain expertise rather than leading projects — they coordinated only once (Minland). Their 3 third-party roles in MICA, FORAM, and SCRREEN2 suggest they are frequently pulled in as an authoritative data source even when not a formal consortium member. With 191 unique partners across 43 countries, they operate as a well-connected node in Europe's raw materials research community.

SGU has collaborated with 191 unique partners across 43 countries, reflecting the broad, pan-European nature of raw materials and geological survey networks. Their reach extends well beyond the Nordic region into a genuinely continent-wide network.

What sets them apart

As Sweden's official geological survey, SGU brings something most research institutes cannot: authoritative national geological data and regulatory credibility. They sit at the intersection of mineral resource assessment, exploration technology testing, and land-use policy — a rare combination that makes them essential for projects needing both hard subsurface data and policy relevance. For consortium builders, partnering with SGU means access to a national geological survey that is actively engaged in EU-wide data harmonization.

Highlights from their portfolio

• Minland
  SGU's only coordinator role in H2020, leading work on integrating mineral resources into land-use planning across Europe.
• X-MINE
  Largest single EC contribution to SGU (EUR 795,625), focused on real-time mineral analysis — their most technology-intensive project.
• GeoERA
  Multi-year effort (2017–2022) to build a unified European geological service, positioning SGU within the core geological survey network.