Uppsala University (Sweden) delivers extensive knowledge on the exploration of rare georesources. It also focuses on innovation management and entrepreneurship training. TU Bergakademie Freiberg (Germany) offers its proficiency in sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction technologies. Ghent University (Belgium) contributes through its leading expertise in the circular economy, environmental science and technology, recovery of resources from waste, and sustainability assessment.
The limited availability of mineral and metal raw materials, together with worldwide phenomena such as base metal and high-tech metal supply risks, fossil fuel depletion and climate change urges us to radically adapt to a sustainable management of these resources. This challenge can be translated into an economic opportunity. The re-invigoration of the mining industry in a sustainable way and the stimulation of the recycling industry are good examples of how the move to sustainable management are providing such opportunities. This requires a shift in economic and business models but also in the education and training of the professionals who will be developing these new models.
SINReM graduates are highly attractive for employers because the programme establishes close links between education, research and innovation, the three parts of the knowledge triangle. This is reflected in the significant study time dedicated to innovation management and entrepreneurship skills and to project work aimed at stimulating creative and multidisciplinary thinking with active involvement of the non-academic partners in student supervision.
On a global scale there is currently a wide variety of specialists that act within the boundaries of their own domain. These specialists often lack the broader overview on alternative techniques available to make the entire value chain more sustainable and tackle specific supply risk challenges by looking at the issues from a value chain perspective within a multidisciplinary context. There is a clearly identified need for professionals that have a holistic overview on resource management and up-to-date processing technologies. Individuals that are familiar with sustainability concepts and possess an innovative mind-set to boost the economic importance of this sector.
SINReM delivers such T-shaped professionals who have a broad overview on the entire value chain with basic expertise and insight in all its aspects, with a specialised expertise in one particular field. These professionals will focus on developing novel technology, engineering and re-inventing materials cycles and the value chain to make them more sustainable and economically superior. Large industrial players active in this field, as well as small and medium enterprises have determinedly expressed the need for professionals with such knowledge and skills.
