Identify technologies required to sustain smart and automated mining and harvesting operations The abiotic sector Improve geochemical and geophysical exploration methods and prospecting techniques with a view to increasing the resource diversity in Europe. Enhance drill logging technologies to obtain more cost-efficient and more environmentally friendly exploration. Reprocess current soil and residue samples using modern analytical techniques for higher recovery of old mine tailings and other deposits. Improve systems to collect and predict ore-body information, including seam and grade definition Investigate hydraulic hoisting technologies to reduce energy consumption on haulage Explore technologies that enable alternative mining sources, including space mining, e.g. asteroid mining. Develop technologies and methods that allow for exploring and extracting minerals from sea bed deposits, deep-sea mining and mining under special conditions Improve hard rock cutting techniques and deploy continuous cutting machines for [automated] and efficient operations within small deposits, deep-sea mining and special conditions mining Test new, and adapt conventional, design layouts and operations to suit automation to decrease the number of workers in quarries and mines Develop configurable, open, integrated interactive planning systems using new ICT Make data available across operations with a view to increase efficiency and safety Investigate means to create stability of automated mining operations at greater depths. Apply new improved health, safety technologies: electrification of haulage machinery for rough terrain The biotic sector Develop efficient ICT systems for precision quantification and characterisation of wood materials i.e. precision inventory Develop efficient ICT systems for planning of precision deliveries to industry customers taking the entire value and supply chains and customers into consideration Develop forest-based standardised information systems like StanForD (Communication with Forest machines), papiNet Forest Wood Supply & Bioproducts, WoodX, Packaging, Pulp, Paper, Fine paper, Logistics, Label stock, Recovered paper, Logistics etc. Apply ICT to develop precision forestry to enhance harvesting and silviculture operations for next generation trees Develop intelligent forest operation systems and smart solutions for human-machine-terrain interactions. Analyse and monitor changes in forest ownership and their implications for forest management, new opportunities and markets. Develop new tree breeding strategies that include quantitative and molecular genetic tools aiming at sustainable and high yield of biomass, improved wood quality and resistance to stress. based
Compile a modern database and economic assessment of primary and secondary resources across the EU (to be continued until 2050) The biotic sector Assess and develop scenarios for the availability and valorisation of forest-based raw materials in Europe in the global context under changing economic, social and climatic conditions. Develop new inventory techniques for determining quantity, quality, dimensions and specific properties of forest resources. Explore new space technologies to generate forest-related data, including high resolution space data, LIDAR-, IR- and radar data and to present those data layers together with relevant trade and climate change data Improve sustainable short-term rotation management schemes for woody biomass production. Develop flexible planning and decision support tools for obtaining sustainable wood supply from multipurpose forest landscapes. Monitor emotional and fact-based societal perceptions of forest management practices, reused and recycled wood-based products, bio- and nanotechnology and its derived products. Develop efficient technology for harvesting, extraction, processing and sorting terrain transportation to road side, including new ICT-systems, novel forest machine felling head measurement technology and models for processing characterisation, semi- and full automation support for increased harvesting and log processing efficiency. Develop efficient technology for low soil impact, minimize rutting and increase accessibility to wood resources where soil bearing capacity is limited. Required Research and Innovation Actions by 2050 Complete modern database and economic assessment of primary and secondary resources across the EU PRIORITY 2: Resource efficient processing, refining and converting of raw materials Activities to foster resource efficiency in processing, refining and converting of primary and secondary raw materials have resulted in a continued relative reduction in energy and water use and material input in the European raw material industries per tonne of material produced. However, the deployment of new technologies with in-built artificial intelligence and the big data will not only contribute to a more resource efficient production but allow for adjusting raw material input to a new era of customised manufacturing imposed by conscious customers and shifting market demands. Meanwhile, the circular economy will open up new business models for production side streams that become valuable raw materials for new products and reuse, paving the way for integrated industrial symbiosis that benefit from old and new value chains.
to the requirements for more light-weight materials, biomimicry with a view to customizing the needs in medical implants, for example. Composites combine different materials in order to create a new material with improved properties and performance. Composites could include both biotic and abiotic material sheets in a wide range of applications from transportation to construction, ranging from metal composites and reinforced plastics such as fibre-reinforced polymers applied in aeronautics and automotive to concrete and mortars panels used in building and infrastructures. Hybrid materials are composites including two materials mixed at the microscopic scale – nanometric or molecular level – in order to create more homogenous or even new material properties. State of play The fabrication of composite structures and products is evolving from manually labour intensive to automated manufacturing methods, including the use of intelligent feedback monitoring systems and robotic technology. Developments in automated integration of the pre-form fabrication and moulding make already available technologies more desirable for economics and productivity. Expected achievements by 2030 Composites are widely employed in building materials and in consumers goods, giving rise to a revolution in product design. New types of composites concepts can be derived from hybrid construction systems, combining the best properties of biotic and abiotic materials in high performance, prefabricated and fully finished modular elements and structures for housing. Miniaturisation and nanotechnology development are key enablers for advanced (neuro)bionics, for which biocompatibility is likely to be much more of an issue than design for recycling. Harmonised data exchange along the supply chain and between stakeholders will increase the performance of the industry. Business models will be based on consumer and end-user perceptions. Interactive communication will play an important role. Expected achievements by 2050 The technology adaptions such as additive manufacturing, biomimicry of materials, self-healing of materials have substituted many linear economy solutions. Large diffusion on nano-structured and nano-functionalised materials have been achieved. Required Research and Innovation Actions by 2030 Develop biocompatibility, miniaturization and nanotechnology for applications in advanced (neuro)bionics. Create business models to open up a raw material pool and conversion of traditional mills to new markets. Develop cost-effective integrated prefabricated building systems including hybrid and composite materials, timber and other biobased construction materials.