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Breakthrough Solutions for the Sustainable Harvesting and Processing of Deep Sea Polymetallic Nodules

Objective

A key EU policy aims to reduce the Union dependency on raw materials imports, in particular (candidate) Critical Raw Materials that are vital for the EU innovative technologies. Topic SC5-11c-2015 scope focuses on “developing new highly-automated technological sustainable solutions for deep mining … in the sea bed combined with in-situ processing of minerals”. An existing but challenging raw material resource concerns polymetallic nodules. These round to elongated concretions of 1–15 cm diameter form on sediment-covered deep-sea plains in all oceans between 4-6000m water depth. The challenge to harvest and transport the nodules to the EU shore is taken on by Blue Nodules. The governing project principle is: industrial viability within the context of a realistic and technical, economic and environmentally balanced business case for the complete Polymetallic Nodules value chain of mining, processing and valorisation. Blue Nodules will develop and test to TRL6 maturity a new highly-automated and technologically sustainable deep sea mining system. Key features are: an annual production capability of 2 Million Tons nodules in water depths up to 6000m, in-situ processing of the nodules and intrinsic safe working conditions. Technical WPs are dedicated to subsea harvesting equipment & control technology, in-situ seafloor processing of polymetallic nodules and sea surface, land operations & processes. A dedicated WP focuses on environmental issues and on an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). A WP setting requirements and assessing the developed technology controls the entire work plan structure. High credibility is obtained by linking the project work to a nodule field licence owned by a project partner and located in the most promising known nodule deposit: the Clarion Clipperton Zone. The project consortium contains 14 leading industry and research partners from 9 EU member states. The project duration is 48 months, the required funding amounts to 8 Million.

Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2014-2015

See other projects for this call

Sub call

H2020-SC5-2015-one-stage

Coordinator

IHC MINING BV
Net EU contribution
€ 2 427 440,00
Address
Smitweg 6
2961 AW Kinderdijk
Netherlands

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Zuidoost-Zuid-Holland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00

Participants (18)

Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

IHC MERWEDE EMPLOYMENT BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Smitweg 6
2961 AW Kinderdijk

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Zuidoost-Zuid-Holland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
DREDGING INTERNATIONAL NV
Belgium
Net EU contribution
€ 465 625,00
Address
Scheldedijk 30 Haven 1025
2070 Zwijndrecht

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Antwerpen Arr. Antwerpen
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

TIDEWAY BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 366 000,00
Address
Minervum 7442
4817 ZG Breda

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Region
Noord-Brabant West-Noord-Brabant
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
CONTITECH RUBBER INDUSTRIAL KORLATOLT FELELOSSEGU TARSASAG
Hungary
Net EU contribution
€ 237 425,00
Address
Budapesti U 10
6728 Szeged

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Region
Alföld és Észak Dél-Alföld Csongrád
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

DUNLOP OIL & MARINE LTD
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 61 375,00
Address
Moody Lane Pyewipe
DN31 2SY Grimsby

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Region
Yorkshire and the Humber East Yorkshire and Northern Lincolnshire North and North East Lincolnshire
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
IHC MTI BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 559 375,00
Address
Smitweg 6
2961 AW Kinderdijk

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Zuidoost-Zuid-Holland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
Third-party

Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure.

IHC MERWEDE EMPLOYMENT BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 0,00
Address
Smitweg 6
2961 AW Kinderdijk

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Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Zuidoost-Zuid-Holland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
DE REGT MARINE CABLES BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 297 937,50
Address
Zaag 2
2931 LD Krimpen Aan De Lek

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Oost-Zuid-Holland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIRESEARCH BV
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 315 281,25
Address
Delftechpark 37 J
2628 XJ Delft

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Delft en Westland
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
SEASCAPE CONSULTANTS LTD
United Kingdom
Net EU contribution
€ 203 603,75
Address
The Old Stable Church Lane
SO51 0HN Romsey Awbridge

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
South East (England) Hampshire and Isle of Wight Central Hampshire
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
GLOBAL SEA MINERAL RESOURCES
Belgium
Net EU contribution
€ 606 437,50
Address
Slijkensesteenweg 2
8400 Oostende

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Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. West-Vlaanderen Arr. Oostende
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
BUREAU VERITAS SA

Participation ended

France
Net EU contribution
€ 6 342,60
Address
40-52 Boulevard Du Parc Immeuble Newtime
92200 Neuilly Sur Seine
Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00
STICHTING NEDERLANDSE WETENSCHAPPELIJK ONDERZOEK INSTITUTEN
Netherlands
Net EU contribution
€ 1 416 442,50
Address
Winthontlaan 2
3526 KV Utrecht

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Region
West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 480 675,00
Address
Templergraben 55
52062 Aachen

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
Norway
Net EU contribution
€ 144 786,25
Address
Hogskoleringen 1
7491 Trondheim

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Region
Norge Trøndelag Trøndelag
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
AARHUS UNIVERSITET
Denmark
Net EU contribution
€ 170 968,75
Address
Nordre Ringgade 1
8000 Aarhus C

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Region
Danmark Midtjylland Østjylland
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
UNIVERSITAT POLITECNICA DE CATALUNYA
Spain
Net EU contribution
€ 102 500,00
Address
Calle Jordi Girona 31
08034 Barcelona

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE REGISTRE INTERNATIONAL DE CLASSIFICATION DE NAVIRES ET DE PLATEFORMES OFFSHORE
France
Net EU contribution
€ 128 922,40
Address
8 Cours Du Triangle
92800 Puteaux

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Region
Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Hauts-de-Seine
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 0,00