July 7, 2025
The FREECOVER project, funded under Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) with grant number 101182579, is pioneering sustainable solutions in rare earth element (REE) recycling through eco-friendly hydrometallurgy. On July 4, 2025, the project consortium convened its sixth-month (M6) meeting online, hosted by the University of Udine (UNIUD). This milestone event showcased the collaborative spirit and innovative strides of this international initiative, led by SITES (Sustainable Innovation Technology Services Limited) in the communication and dissemination efforts.
A Special Gathering of Global Expertise
The M6 meeting brought together representatives from partner organizations across Europe and beyond, including UNIUD, AERIS, VINS, UL, UNSPMF, SITES, AD HARBI, UH, UAB, and UNIVR. The virtual format underscored the project’s adaptability, uniting experts to review progress, address challenges, and chart the path forward in REE recycling—a critical step toward Europe’s circular economy ambitions.
Key Speakers and Contributions
The meeting featured impactful presentations from key figures driving FREECOVER’s work packages:
- [Andrea Melchior (UNIUD)]: Representing Work Package 1 (WP1), Andrea shared advancements in developing novel ionic liquids (ILs) for REE extraction. His insights highlighted the eco-friendly innovations at the heart of FREECOVER’s technical mission.
- [Oscar Prado (AERIS)]: Leading updates on Work Package 3 (WP3), Oscar outlined progress in optimizing recycling processes, showcasing practical applications of the project’s research.
- [Tatjana Trtič (VINS)]: Focusing on Work Package 2 (WP2), Tatjana presented the characterization of natural adsorbents like pyrophyllite and zeolites, emphasizing sustainable material use.
- [Leonardo Piccinetti (SITES)]: As the leader of the communication and dissemination work package, Leonardo reinforced the importance of sharing FREECOVER’s breakthroughs, ensuring visibility and impact through platforms like Zenodo and social media managed by SITES.
These speakers exemplified the project’s interdisciplinary strength, blending technical expertise with strategic outreach.
Meeting Highlights
The agenda tackled both technical and organizational priorities:
- Technical Milestones: Early successes in IL synthesis and adsorbent characterization were celebrated, laying a strong foundation for REE recovery processes.
- Secondments: Plans were solidified to complete most staff exchanges by the midterm meeting, fostering knowledge transfer across borders.
- Challenges Addressed: The consortium discussed delays caused by protests in Serbia affecting UNSPMF’s operations, proposing task redistribution to partners like UL and VINS as a proactive solution.
- Dissemination Strategy: SITES emphasized timely updates via online tools and newsletters, ensuring compliance with Horizon Europe’s open-access mandates.
Next Steps for FREECOVER
The meeting set a clear roadmap for the coming months:
- Progress Report: Due in January 2026, this report will refine FREECOVER’s trajectory based on M6 findings.
- Midterm Meeting: Scheduled for June 2026, this event will engage the European Research Executive Agency (REA) to showcase achievements.
- Enhanced Dissemination: Continued use of Zenodo, the Participant Portal, and SITES-led social media campaigns will amplify the project’s reach and impact.
A Commitment to Sustainability and Collaboration
FREECOVER stands as a beacon of international cooperation, tackling the urgent need for sustainable REE recycling. Despite logistical hurdles, the consortium’s resilience and innovative spirit shine through, guided by SITES’ leadership in communication. This M6 meeting not only marked six months of progress but also reaffirmed the project’s dedication to a greener future.
For more details, visit https://freecover.eu/.
