GENERAL INFORMATION
 

Project title
 

Enhancing the Rare Earth Elements (REEs) Research and Innovation Capacity of Turkey

Priority area
 

SMEs, Manufacturing Industry, Entrepreneurs, R&D Centers, Investors, Public Institutions

Beneficiary

General Directorate of Industry

Co-Beneficiary
 

General Directorate of Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA), Munzur University Rare Earth Elements Application and Research Center (MUNTEAM), Rare Earth Elements Research Institute (NATEN) operating under the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Institute (TENMAK)

Duration

24 months, 21.07.2022

EU contribution (Euro)

11.774.090

PROJECT SUMMARY

Brief description of the project and main objectives
 

With the project, it is planned to establish a national REE supply chain in our country and to ensure safe supply, as well as to increase the R&D capacity in REE.

Location

Ankara, Tunceli

Achievements / expected outputs

• Establishing a reliable and uninterrupted supply chain of REEs
• Recovery of REEs from geological mineralization areas and obtaining high purity
• Recycling of REEs from electronic waste
• Conducting R&D activities for the development, patenting and commercialization of NdFeB (Neodymium iron boron) permanent magnets and high value-added products
• Developing the existing infrastructures of MUNTEAM and MTA in a way that can serve nationally to the "REE ecosystem" which is strategically important for our country
• Improving MUNTEAM's research infrastructure and developing, patenting and commercializing new high value-added products using REEs
• Conducting R&D activities for the recycling of REEs from electronic wastes with the recycling facility to be established in MTA and strengthening the recycling ecosystem in this area
• Analyzing the current situation, providing trainings and providing consultancy for product commercialization processes for SMEs and other stakeholders who are planned to play an active role in the development of the REE sector
• Organizing promotional activities to increase awareness about REE