Three-day international event bringing together Europe’s top raw materials specialists to shape the future of innovation, policy and industrial cooperation
From 25 to 27 November, ENCO co-hosted the 12th PROMETIA Scientific Seminar in Naples, welcoming leading researchers, policy experts and industry representatives from across Europe and beyond to discuss the future of the raw materials sector.
The event, held at the headquarters of the Unione Industriali di Napoli and co-organised by PROMETIA and ENCO, confirmed Naples as a strategic hub for dialogue on innovation, policy and sustainability in the field of Critical Raw Materials.
The seminar officially opened on 25 November with welcome addresses from PROMETIA President Stéphane Bourg and Vice-President Alexandra Ribeiro, together with our General Director, Marco De La Feld. The opening session focused on the implementation of the European Critical Raw Materials Act and on national and European strategies to ensure secure, resilient and sustainable access to strategic resources.
“On behalf of ENCO, we strive to stimulate European cooperation as much as possible, in order to fully leverage the opportunities that the European Union, through the Horizon Europe programme funds, makes available to increase competitiveness and reduce the dependence that Europe still has today on certain countries such as China.”
Addressing the challenges of Europe’s raw materials value chain
The first day was dedicated to emerging challenges across the raw materials value chain, including critical mineral exploration, waste generation related to the energy transition and Europe’s positioning within the global supply landscape.
Keynote speakers included Nicola Mondillo (University of Naples Federico II), Stefano Puricelli (Politecnico di Milano) and Stéphane Bourg. The programme also featured international contributions from institutions such as Natural Resources Canada, the University of Oulu and BRGM, providing a global perspective on innovation, policy development and skills for the future.
From research to industry: PROMETIA’s operational networks
The second day focused on PROMETIA’s operational networks and their role in transforming research into industrial solutions.
METNET, the European network of independent pilot-plant facilities developed within PROMETIA, was presented as a strategic infrastructure to bridge laboratory research with industrial implementation. Demonstration projects including QUEEN, ZeWa, PureZinc and pilot-scale biohydrometallurgical initiatives showcased concrete examples of industrial symbiosis and sustainable resource recovery.
In parallel, LabNET, PROMETIA’s cooperation platform for analytical laboratories, highlighted joint research activities aimed at strengthening quality control, standardisation and data reliability. Initiatives such as SILREF and LabCEED confirmed the key role of laboratory coordination in supporting innovation across the raw materials value chain.
A European platform for excellence and collaboration
The technical programme continued with presentations from PROMETIA members on European and international research initiatives covering critical metals recovery, battery recycling, hydrometallurgy, tailings valorisation, lithium extraction and advanced processing technologies. Contributions came from institutions including KU Leuven, LUT University, VTT, Politecnico di Torino, IFP Energies nouvelles and Swerim AB.
The event concluded with PROMETIA’s General Assembly, dedicated to members, during which future activities and strategic priorities were discussed.
Media coverage and institutional visibility
We were also pleased to welcome a local Neapolitan TV crew covering the event and capturing insights from several speakers through dedicated interviews.
Interviews featured PROMETIA President Stéphane Bourg, our General Director Marco De La Feld and Gian Andrea Blengini, Professor at the University of Turin, who shared reflections on Europe’s strategies for Critical Raw Materials and sustainable metal recovery. The media coverage highlighted the importance of a strong network such as PROMETIA in fostering collaboration, accelerating innovation and strengthening Europe’s industrial resilience.
Watch the full interview below to learn more.