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MIREU · Project

A Knowledge Network Helping Mining Companies Navigate Regulations Across 15 EU Countries

manufacturingTestedTRL 6Thin data (2/5)
mireu.eu

Imagine you want to open a mine somewhere in Europe, but every country — even every region — has different rules, different politics, and different attitudes from locals. MIREU brought together 33 organizations across 15 countries to map out what works and what doesn't when it comes to getting mining and metallurgy operations running. They built a searchable online portal where companies and governments can find region-specific knowledge — from regulations to community engagement strategies — and created practical guidelines for getting public buy-in, which is often the hardest part of any mining project.

By the numbers
33
consortium partners
15
countries represented in the network
EUR 2,999,725
EU contribution to the project
36
total deliverables produced
6
industry partners in consortium
2
SMEs in the consortium
The business problem

What needed solving

Mining and metallurgy companies face a fragmented landscape when trying to operate across European regions — each country and region has different regulations, different levels of public acceptance, and different economic conditions. There is no single source of truth for understanding what makes a mining region viable or what blocks development. Getting community buy-in (the 'social license to operate') remains the biggest unpredictable risk for extractive industry projects across the EU.

The solution

What was built

The MIREU Knowledge Portal — a searchable database with indexed knowledge about mining and metallurgy conditions across 15 EU countries, using Dublin Core metadata standards. The portal holds datasets, reports, charts, and regional profiles. The project also produced 36 deliverables including guidelines and recommendations for sustainable development of extractive industries and strategies for achieving community acceptance.

Audience

Who needs this

Mining companies planning expansion into new EU regionsRaw materials supply chain managers at manufacturing firmsEnvironmental and permitting consultancies for extractive industriesRegional development agencies promoting mining investmentPolicy advisors working on EU critical raw materials strategy
Business applications

Who can put this to work

Mining and Mineral Extraction
enterprise
Target: Mining companies seeking to expand operations into new EU regions

If you are a mining company looking to establish operations in a new European region — this project built a knowledge portal covering 15 countries with indexed datasets, regional profiles, and regulatory information. Instead of spending months researching local conditions from scratch, you can use MIREU's knowledge base to understand what has worked and what has blocked extractive projects in specific regions. The network of 33 partners includes contacts across regulatory and industry bodies.

Metallurgy and Raw Materials Processing
mid-size
Target: Metallurgy firms dependent on EU mineral raw material supply chains

If you are a metallurgy company worried about the security of your raw material supply — this project mapped the conditions for sustaining mineral extraction across EU regions and produced guidelines for keeping extractive industries viable. With 6 industry partners and 7 universities contributing, the knowledge base covers both technical and social factors that affect whether a region can reliably supply raw materials long-term.

Environmental and Mining Consultancy
SME
Target: Consultancies advising on social license to operate and permitting for extractive projects

If you are a consultancy helping mining clients navigate community relations and permitting — MIREU developed region-specific guidelines on achieving 'social license to operate' across diverse EU regions. The project analyzed what cultural, societal, and economic factors make or break public acceptance of mining projects. With 15 countries represented and 36 deliverables produced, this is a ready-made evidence base for client advisory work.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

How much would it cost to access the MIREU Knowledge Portal?

The MIREU Knowledge Portal was developed as a publicly accessible resource under EU funding of EUR 2,999,725. Based on available project data, the portal at mireu.eu was designed for open access. However, since the project closed in April 2021, current availability should be verified directly.

Can this scale to cover regions outside the 15 countries in the consortium?

The project explicitly aimed to create a 'nucleus and multipliers for a more extensive network beyond the life-time of the project.' The 33-partner consortium across 15 countries was designed as a starting point, with the knowledge base structured to accommodate additional regions. The portal's metadata indexing system (Dublin Core standard) supports expansion.

Is there any IP or licensing involved?

MIREU was a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), not a technology development project. The knowledge portal and guidelines were produced under EU public funding. Based on available project data, the outputs are public knowledge resources, not proprietary technology requiring licensing.

What regulations does the knowledge base actually cover?

The knowledge base covers region-specific regulatory environments for extractive and metallurgical industries across 15 EU countries including Finland, Germany, Spain, Poland, Romania, Sweden, and others. It addresses what regulatory conditions have been conducive or hampering to mining development, though specific regulatory frameworks vary by region.

How current is the data given the project ended in 2021?

The project ran from December 2017 to April 2021, so the knowledge base reflects conditions up to that period. Regulatory environments and regional conditions may have changed since. The portal's value is strongest for historical analysis and as a baseline for understanding regional dynamics across 15 countries.

Can this integrate with our existing supply chain intelligence systems?

The MIREU Knowledge Portal uses Dublin Core metadata standards and includes both semi-structured datasets and unstructured documents like reports and charts. Based on available project data, the portal was built with standard data management tools including feeding, indexing, and search/retrieval functions, which suggests structured data export may be possible.

Consortium

Who built it

The MIREU consortium is large at 33 partners across 15 countries, which reflects the project's mission to build a pan-European mining network. The industry ratio is modest at 18% (6 industry partners), with the bulk being 15 "Other" category organizations — likely regional development agencies and government bodies, which makes sense for a policy-oriented project. Only 2 SMEs are involved. The coordinator is Finland's Geological Survey (GEOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS), a major public research institution. For a business looking to use MIREU outputs, the real value is in the network itself: contacts across regulatory bodies, development agencies, and research institutions in mining regions from Scandinavia to Iberia to Eastern Europe.

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Geological Survey of Finland (GTK). Search for MIREU project coordinator at GTK for direct contact.

Order a report on this consortiumSee GEOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS profile →
Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to connect with mining region experts from the MIREU network? SciTransfer can facilitate introductions to the right consortium partners for your specific regional needs.

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