Stakeholders gather for start of EIP Raw Materials conference

The annual conference of European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials has opened in Brussels.

The two-day event brings together more than 400 stakeholders and will review the EIP’s development and how it can best achieve its goals in the future. During the first day of the event, the initial results of the EIP will be presented, in addition to the commitments of over 800 stakeholders involved in the partnership. Interested parties will review the developments made in the EIP’s industrial fields, debate how to increase the approval of innovation breakthroughs and explore new funding opportunities. Also being considered is the development of new regional initiatives. Announced in December by the EIT, details will also be provided on the new Raw Materials KIC, which is due to begin later this year.

The second day of the conference will focus on Horizon 2020 and include a brokerage event. The day will consider the 2015 raw materials related calls under the research and innovation framework programme.

EIP Raw Materials focuses on securing the raw materials supply to the European economy; placing Europe at the front of the raw materials sectors; and reducing the negative externalities of the raw materials industry on the health, society and the environment. The Partnership’s Strategic Implementation Plan is being implemented alongside Horizon 2020.