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Metals and minerals - for sustainable value chains

Metals and minerals are crucial for Sweden's and Europe's competitiveness, for the climate transition and our raw material supply. Vinnova supports innovation that makes value chains more sustainable, from extraction to circular use and recycling. We also collaborate widely in Sweden and internationally to meet the needs of the future.

This web page has been machine translated. If there are any uncertainties, please refer to the Swedish text.

Metals and minerals are essential for the green and digital transition. They are needed in everything from renewable energy and electrified transportation to advanced electronics and the defense industry. At the same time, Europe and Sweden face an increased risk of supply disruptions. We are seeing increased geopolitical uncertainty and rapidly growing demand for critical raw materials.

Growing demand for raw materials creates innovation

To strengthen competitiveness, innovation is needed throughout the value chain. This applies to new technologies for exploration and extraction, resource-efficient and climate-neutral production. It is about new material solutions and a developed circular economy. Recycling and reuse play an increasingly important role.

Vinnova drives and supports research and innovation efforts that develop sustainable material flows. We support efforts that strengthen Sweden's international position. We want to contribute to the EU's common objective within the Critical Raw Materials Regulation, Critical Raw Materials Act. The work is carried out in close collaboration with industry, academia, regions and international partnerships.

Focus areas

  • Innovation in exploration and extraction is making it possible to find and extract metals and minerals in a more sustainable, efficient and safe way. This includes geodata, automation, digital tools and methods that reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Primary extraction will be needed for a long time, but can be supplemented by increasing amounts of secondary raw materials.

    Innovation in exploration and extraction is making it possible to find and extract metals and minerals in a more sustainable, efficient and safe way. This includes geodata, automation, digital tools and methods that reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. Primary extraction will be needed for a long time, but can be supplemented by increasing amounts of secondary raw materials.

  • Here we develop solutions that allow more materials to be recovered through better collection, sorting, dismantling and recycling. We also support innovation that reduces environmental impact. We do this in areas such as water management, emission reduction and biodiversity, as well as methods for safe post-processing of mining areas. Cities'metal reservesof, for example, unused and forgotten cables and pipes, so-called Urban mining, are becoming increasingly important.

    Here we develop solutions that allow more materials to be recovered through better collection, sorting, dismantling and recycling. We also support innovation that reduces environmental impact. We do this in areas such as water management, emission reduction and biodiversity, as well as methods for safe post-processing of mining areas. Cities'metal reservesof, for example, unused and forgotten cables and pipes, so-called Urban mining, are becoming increasingly important.

  • Resource-efficient and climate-neutral production is about how industry can use metals and minerals smarter. It includes process optimization, energy efficiency, reduced raw material losses and the development of new material solutions. The goal is to strengthen competitiveness while reducing climate impact.

    Resource-efficient and climate-neutral production is about how industry can use metals and minerals smarter. It includes process optimization, energy efficiency, reduced raw material losses and the development of new material solutions. The goal is to strengthen competitiveness while reducing climate impact.

  • Products need to be designed for longer life, easier repair and recycling. The focus is on circular business models, traceability and a clear life cycle perspective. Design early in the chain determines how much material can be recycled.

    More information:

    Products need to be designed for longer life, easier repair and recycling. The focus is on circular business models, traceability and a clear life cycle perspective. Design early in the chain determines how much material can be recycled.

    More information:

  • Sustainable raw material projects require trust and local ownership. This includes working with policy instruments, permitting processes, regulation, and issues of local communities, skills, work environment and transparency. We also develop methods that measure the economic, social and environmental impacts of the projects.

    More information:

    Sustainable raw material projects require trust and local ownership. This includes working with policy instruments, permitting processes, regulation, and issues of local communities, skills, work environment and transparency. We also develop methods that measure the economic, social and environmental impacts of the projects.

    More information:

Programme and initiatives

Sweden leads upcoming fivefold EU effort on raw materials

ERA MIN, ERA-NET Cofund and Raw Materials (European partnership programmes)

ERA-MIN 3 (latest calls for proposals within the European collaboration program)

Swedish Metals and Minerals (Impact Innovation)

Swedish Mining Innovation (SIP)

Metallic minerals (SIP)

International collaborations

Cooperation with Brazil

Government assignment

In 2025, Vinnova will invest 11.6 million SEK in the participation of Swedish actors in the EU's partnership program and other project in the metals and minerals area.

Vinnova is also responsible for a subject overview and mapping in the mining and minerals area, a work that has been ongoing for several years.

Current government assignment

Reports

Report

Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

Co-funded European partnership on raw materials for the green and digital transition

Report

Research in the mining and minerals area

An overview of Swedish research in the mining and minerals field and the strengths and challenges of the research area.

Project

Strategic project that have been financed by Vinnova in metals and minerals:

Project title Coordinator Grant Status Reference number
A resilient mineral and metal supply in a total defense perspective Försvarshögskolan SEK 300 000 Ongoing 2025-01776
Metals and minerals - for a sustainable society Ingenjörsvetenskapsakademien Iva SEK 3 000 000 Completed 2022-03164
Critical raw materials from a Swedish perspective- self-sufficiency or an international strategy AB Gladtjärnen SEK 300 000 Completed 2022-02490
How can Swedish industry recover more critical raw materials from by-products in smelters and mines AB Gladtjärnen SEK 250 000 Completed 2024-04236
Sustainable and secure supply of metals and minerals SveMin AB SEK 1 367 680 Completed 2022-03677
National network for mining municipalities Georange Ideella Förening SEK 1 800 000 Completed 2020-04676

Current events

News

Sweden leads fivefold EU effort on raw materials

News

Sweden-Brazil invest in mining, aerospace & sustainable cities

Last updated 19 December 2025