SPRIN-D Challenge: Tech Metal Transformation

Critical metals are indispensable for many aspects of modern life. The potential range of applications for these raw materials and metals in particular is enormous: from high-tech applications to renewable energy technologies, aerospace, electronics and modern manufacturing. Access to many of these critical raw materials is limited to a few producing countries. Despite the central role of these raw materials in industrial production processes as well as their concentrated supply, the recycling rate for critical raw materials is alarmingly low.

The aim of the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge is to develop and validate innovative processes for recovering critical metals from complex waste streams such as electronic waste, batteries, electronic components, or other well-justified starting material. Biological, chemical and physical-mechanical approaches are to be combined in a modular system to gain access of these critical metals. The aim is to not only to recover individual metals, the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge is driving forward the development of an end-to-end process in which recovered metals can be directly reused as functional materials with a life-after-next in mind.

More information about the challenge and how to apply can be found under the following link