MOSAIC will look for the interaction with talented SMEs and start-ups working on critical technologies and deep tech, to help reaching Industry 5.0 while creating an innovation ecosystem. These companies will enrich the value chains in digital and deep-tech innovation, clean technologies, and net-zero technologies. Like this, MOSAIC will create an excellence hub established in different major pillars of deep-tech innovation, where the partners bring and exchange knowledge and technology transfer. Involving local, regional and national stakeholders MOSAIC will call for better coordination at all levels for better synergies between EU funds and programs that aim to stimulate resilient innovation and circularity. Collaborations between the public sector, universities, businesses and society will be acknowledged as critical to innovation and to increase the competitiveness of regions' different development levels to bring solutions tailored to regional and local needs. As a result, MOSAIC will provide a Design Options Paper showing the outcomes of the execution of the ecosystem actions providing guidance to future developments of the innovation ecosystems, including the compilation of conclusions from mapping & integration of MOSAIC stakeholders and regions for the generation of the hub-network, selection of 4 deep-tech and critical technology enterprises based on the potential for the ecosystem and the analysis of the agencies and agents that count on EIC Accelerator certification to apply to the Plug-in scheme.

The Geospatial Artificial Intelligence Analysis for Tailings Storage Facilities (GAIA-TSF) aims to design and develop the prototype of a system based on satellite earth observation and machine learning algorithms to achieve continuous multi-level/multi-scale characterisation and monitoring of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). To achieve this goal, GAIA-TSF consortium will engage in interdisciplinary and international collaborative research and development, integrating the fields of geoscience, Earth Observation (EO), and Machine Learning (ML) Science as well as five countries (Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Zambia and South Africa). The project will focus on establishing strong interactions with user communities (mining authorities and mining industry) involved in TSF operational activities with the aim of defining clear customer-specific functional and technical requirements. These requirements will lay down Key Variables (KV) that could be used as parameters to monitor TSF as well as precise performance objectives for the GAIA-TSF prototype. On this foundation, the cooperative work between scientists and the mining operational communities will lead to explore how three technical disciplines, namely satellite earth observation, geo-engineering and machine learning, can be integrated into the design of a prototype supporting the automatic detection of anomalies and risks in TSFs. Based on the designed variables and structured training datasets, different machine and deep learning algorithms will be tested and evaluated to design and develop a prototype supporting the automatic detection and prediction of anomalies and risks in TSFs.

There is a general lack of awareness of the importance of mineral raw materials in today’s society and an (overall) negative view on the concept of mining, strongly related to the use of non-modern, less environmentally-friendly and even outdated methods and technologies. This is particularly relevant for SMEs, which lack the tractor effect of big industries and therefore suffer from innovation deficit, cross-sector fertilisation and disruptive potential. In order to adapt to current trends and technologies, promote industrial modernisation and digitalisation of the sector, and embrace, interact and profit from other emerging industries, the mining & raw materials sectors must undergo a cross-sectoral and cross-fertilisation exercise, with a particular emphasis on SMEs, in order to develop novel industrial value chains that can support the integration of novel materials, techniques and processes. In this respect, industrial clusters and associated entities are therefore the ideal vehicle to promote and accelerate investments in order to develop innovation capacity and product development in SMEs. The overall aim of MINE.THE.GAP is to provide a support platform for the reinforcement of existing value chains and the development of new industrial value chains in the raw materials and mining "target" sectors by means of cross-sectoral and cross-regional innovation and support services in cluster-related SMEs through synergies and interactions with providers and facilitators from the existing and emerging fields of ICT, circular economy, resource efficiency and advanced manufacturing ("provider" sectors"). A well-balanced consortium comprising of 9 Clusters, 1 RTO and 1 Association from 9 regions and 7 European countries representing over 500 SMEs participate in the project to develop a three layered management structure, methodology and strategy including direct financial support to SMEs, additional business support services and access to new investments.

DEXPLORE seeks to revolutionize mineral exploration in Europe by developing innovative approaches to counter declining ore deposit discovery rates, focusing on deep-seated deposits critical for the economy's decarbonization. The project emphasizes engaging the general public and stakeholders, combining innovation at various levels, and utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies. Targeting essential materials across extensive geological terrains, DEXPLORE proposes a holistic innovation package, integrating UAV-assisted in-field mineral detection, advanced Earth Observation methods, and novel deep-land geophysics techniques to reach at least 600 m depth. The initiative outlines the development of updated ore models, improving exploration technologies, and providing a visualization platform. This platform will integrate geological, remote sensing, and geophysical data to enhance access to information about EU potential in critical raw materials, while increasing public awareness. DEXPLORE also aims to strengthen cooperation with strategic partner countries, establishing a robust Advisory Board and fostering collaboration with other EU initiatives for joint activities and result sharing. In summary, DEXPLORE represents a collaborative effort to advance mineral exploration, contribute to sustainable sourcing of critical raw materials, and ensure EU's open strategic autonomy.

Critical minerals and elements are highly significant for Europe's economy, particularly within strategic sectors. However, the demand for new, often essential materials conflicts with the decreasing activity in primary raw material mining. As a result, there is an impending need to fulfil these demands within European borders, reducing reliance on third countries. This was recently reflected in the European Raw Materials Act as a clear necessity from the EU, being a potential solution the use of green and non-invasive technologies to recover and refine CRMs. Besides this, it is known that the reserves and productions of mineral resources in Slovakia are mainly located in Kosice region (46% Slovak geological reserves), thereby, enhanced networking and positioning activities between TUKE and the top-class leading research institutions are needed in order to close the still apparent research and innovation gap within the EU. Furthermore, TUKE is a distinguished mining university and serves as the primary reference centre within Slovakia, which will be boosted and reinforced in three main strategy lines through several learning tools and materials. These will be focused on: 1) exploration, recovery and mining monitoring exploitation, 2) capacity to drive sustainability, circularity and social assessment 3) Strengthening TUKE’s research management & coordination capacities, and administrative skills. The WIDEX implementation will include the creation of a new cluster in Central Europe, an excellent Virtual Centre, as well as a Stakeholder platform around the green and non-invasive technologies ecosystem, and a WIDEX’s WHITEBOOK based on the lessons learned.