EUROTHEN - European extractive industries network established
The establishment of the European Thematic Network on Extractive Industries (EUROTHEN) was approved by the European Commission in June 1997. This is a network, supported by Community funding, of industries, academia and research organizations that have mutual interests and complementary capabilities in all aspects of the extractive industries. EUROTHEN will provide the necessary forum to share problems and experience, and facilitate the incorporation and transfer of technology and mobility of researchers. It will also coordinate activities so that all partners become better informed and able to contribute more effectively to the alleviation of problems. It will create an organized interface between the various projects supported by the EC in the field of extractive industries through BRITE/EURAM and other relevant programmes (CRAFT, SMT, INCO-COPERNICUS etc.). The main objectives of EUROTHEN are: - To provide a European forum for the development, dissemination and exchange of scientific and technological knowledge and ideas relating to all aspects of the extractive industries: exploration, exploitation, processing, environmental aspects; - To accelerate dissemination and exploitation of results; - To inform relevant EU and Member States' RTD programme planners of research priorities, to improve the synergy and coordination of research being carried out in EC programmes and take the necessary initiatives at EU and Member State levels; - To interact between industry and regulatory authorities with respect to sustainable development. EUROTHEN encompasses a wide range of activities and comprises 33 different EC-funded projects. In order to ensure better scientific and administrative management, the projects are organized in five clusters: - 1. Exploration technologies; - 2. Mining and tunnelling technologies; - 3. Ornamental stones; - 4. Clean processing technologies for ores and industrial minerals; - 5. New environmentally friendly applications of industrial minerals. Actions covered by EUROTHEN include: - Organization of an annual Contractors' Workshop; - Biannual organization of the EC-CANMET meeting; - Exchange of researchers between the various projects for technology and expertise transfer; - Publication of the proceedings of the workshop and meetings; - Publication of a quarterly newsletter (available as hard copy and through the Internet). It is anticipated that the proposed network will benefit the European extractive industry, European academia, EU & Member States' regulatory authorities, RTD programme planners and European society. Through synergy, coordination of research efforts, interbreeding among the various technological fields and interaction among producers, end-users, and equipment manufacturers, the necessary critical mass for technological evolution will be exceeded and this will lead to further innovative technological achievements in this important industrial sector.