Agile Exploration and Geo-modelling for European Critical Raw materials

Project Information

AGEMERA

Grant agreement ID: 101058178

DOI

10.3030/101058178

Project closed

EC signature date 16 May 2022

Start date 1 August 2022

End date 31 July 2025

Funded under

• Digital, Industry and Space

Total cost

€ 7 494 662,50

EU contribution

€ 7 494 657,00

Coordinated by

OULUN YLIOPISTO
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AGEMERA (Agile Exploration and Geo-modelling for European Critical Raw materials)

Reporting period: 2024-02-01 to 2025-07-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Agile Exploration and Geo-modelling for European Critical Raw Materials (AGEMERA) develops innovative, non-invasive methods to unlock Europe’s resource potential, increase public understanding of CRMs, and promote environmentally responsible mineral exploration.

Europe’s Twin Transition depend on secure CRM access, yet the EU remains highly import-dependent. Materials such as copper, lithium, cobalt, and rare earths are vital for renewable energy, mobility, defence, and digital technologies, and this dependency threatens resilience and autonomy.

AGEMERA unites universities, research institutes, SMEs, and industry partners from 10 European countries and Zambia. Its objectives are to:

1. Identify new CRM potential through advanced geoscientific surveys and non-invasive technologies (drone geophysics, passive seismics, muography, AI-based data fusion).
2. Increase transparency and trust by surveying citizens in pilot regions, mapping local perceptions, and providing insights into Social Licence to Explore and Operate.
3. Strengthen CRM awareness via educational materials, accredited courses, workshops, and an interactive CRM Serious Game.
4. Promote international standards such as UNFC and UNRMS, educating future experts and aligning European practice with global frameworks.

Field campaigns in Finland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, and Zambia feed harmonised, EGDI-compatible datasets for long-term access. By combining geoscience innovation with social-science insights, AGEMERA reduces environmental impact, builds societal trust, and supports the CRM Act.

www.agemera.eu

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

AGEMERA conducted integrated field campaigns across six European countries and Zambia, combining geological mapping, geochemistry, geochronology, geophysics, and modelling. The project produced harmonised EGDI-compatible datasets and 3D models of CRM potential.

Technological development and validation:
• Drone-based geophysics (Radai Oy): Magnetic and EM surveys in Finland, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Zambia proved effective for rapid, low-impact surveying, producing high-resolution 3D inversions.
• Passive seismics (LITHICA & CSIC): Multiple methods were tested in Spain and Poland, with Rayleigh Wave Ellipticity (RWE) delivering robust results for detecting shallow density and velocity contrasts. Applications ranged from early-stage exploration to mine stability monitoring.
• Muon tomography (Muon Solutions Oy): Field trials in Bosnia Herzegovina, Bulgaria, and Poland successfully imaged density contrasts, including a bauxite lens, with new software enabling time-sequential imaging.

Data integration and modelling:
The AI-powered AGEMERA Geo-Suite (OPT/NET BV) integrates drone, seismic, muon, satellite, and geological data into analysis-ready outputs via a web-based GUI with a conversational AI assistant and INSPIRE-compliant repository.

Scientific advances:
New mineral-system models (porphyry Cu in Bulgaria, tungsten in Spain, karst bauxites in the Dinarides), refined geochronology, and geochemical datasets expand CRM knowledge while reducing invasive work.
Three technologies were advanced to TRL 5, over 80 articles were produced, and all data are accessible through EGDI and Zenodo, supporting sustainable, low-impact exploration.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

AGEMERA delivered results that advance the state of the art in both technology and methodology for critical raw material (CRM) exploration:
• Non-invasive methods: Drone, seismic, and muon systems were validated in varied geological settings, reducing costs and impacts compared to drilling-based exploration.
• AI data integration: The Geo-Suite platform fuses multi-source datasets into transparent, cloud-based decision tools—an advance over isolated GIS workflows.
• Open datasets: EGDI-compliant packages and 3D models lower barriers for researchers, SMEs, and policymakers.
• Societal innovation: The local perception survey and SoftGIS mapping tool allow authorities and companies to integrate citizen views into land-use planning—an unprecedented social-science input to exploration
• Education and skills: Accredited university courses, micro-credentials, and an open-access CRM Serious Game ensure continuity of training and awareness beyond the project.

Potential impacts and needs for further uptake:
• Industrial pilots and demonstration projects are required to scale non-invasive methods into commercial service offerings.
• Further development of inversion and integration software will enhance resolution and usability for end-users.
• Access to risk capital, IPR protection, and supportive regulation will be key to accelerating the commercialisation of drone EM systems, muography services, and the AI data platform.
• Embedding social-science tools into permitting frameworks would support smoother project development and reduce delays.
• Internationalisation, through partnerships with Zambia and EU networks such as ESMIN and EuroGeoSurveys, will sustain exploitation and market access.

Overall, AGEMERA has demonstrated that combining technological innovation with social-science approaches can lower exploration costs, reduce permitting risks, and improve Europe’s resilience in critical raw materials.

Basic information on the goals of the AGEMERA project