TOWARDS “CLEAN” MINING TECHNOLOGY THROUGH TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION Nicolae Ilias, Romania

GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

The mining sector can be recognised as a driving force maximising the development of other economic sectors and productive activities (clusters), with a view to improving the productivity and stability of the sector; and consolidating a competitive network generating economic and social benefits for all of the stakeholders. Some key points in this process are achieving greater coordination of public services, greater transparency in the demand and supply chain, good promotion of new business opportunities, generating a close collaborative relationship among universities, technological centres, companies and mining suppliers, as well as promoting partnerships and enhancing multisectoral relationships. Progress in these areas requires a medium- and long-term process which will make it possible to generate buy-in, and thus, for instance, achieve greater participation and collaboration of the productive mining sector in initiatives developed by local governments, and promote mining policy strategies for the strengthening and development of local suppliers, such as improving access to funding for small and medium-sized enterprises.

  Taking account the combination of the enhancement of local innovation capacity and the strengthening of mining-related activities.   main policy recommendations:   Achieving greater coordination and integration between national innovation systems and sectoral policies.   Generating policies to increase R&D investment levels, especially the contribution from the productive sector.   The creation of a sectoral fund for mining or a programme in key areas of the mining sector – complementary to competitive State funds – can also be an instrument to be implemented in some countries.   R&D spending on mining should be more focused on applied research, without neglecting basic science, enabling the creation of technological products with an appealing economic value to make them saleable even on the most demanding markets.

TECHNICAL SCIENTIFIC INNOVATION Towards Sustainable Mineral Resources Extraction, Beneficiation And Use Iosif Andras, Romania

European Thematic Network NESMI – the Network on European Sustainable Minerals Industries. Approaching sustainability in providing Europe with the mineral resources it needs and sustainable waste management and minimisation are very important for the whole European economy. RTD ability and experience are normally held within a small group of experts. This has proved inadequate; the present state of research activity has to be improved in terms of higher effectiveness and synergy. Networking can improve understanding of the problems and establish ways for improved problem solving.

The main problems with current research activities are: • Parallel development of techniques, processes and products is common due to similar problems in different mining areas. • Small and medium-size companies often do not have access to relevant research programmes. • Build up of knowledge is too slow. • Research transfer into production is too slow. • Effective involvement of support and customer sectors is not taking place. • Concentration of effort on the most significant topics is not achieved. • The dissemination of results is inefficient. • Research efforts do not include ecological aspects.

Improvingis the situation is possible through establishing and developping European networking for the European mining and minerals processing industry taking into account the different mining regions and the different mining branches. The network had to have the participation of producers, suppliers, research organisations, universities and associations. Objectives: • To increase knowledge on RTD • To communicate RTD results • To initiate common projects • To initiate benchmarking for aims, quality and transfer of research activities • To optimise transfer of technologies • To increase mining and processing education • To increase quality in eco-efficient production and in resource management