The European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP SMR) is an Association of subjects operating in the Mineral Resources Industry at a wide scale (coal, metal ores, industrial minerals, ornamental stones, aggregates, smelters as well as technology suppliers and engineering companies) in different sectors along the value chain, from exploration to extraction, processing, recycling. ETP SMR is covering the entire range of mineral resources production in Europe. However, the production and tailored provision of mineral raw materials needs more than exploitation and/or recycling. Technology and knowledge is the key to success. Therefore, ETP SMR has also integrated many of Europe’s very strong equipment and technology providers. Those organisations are usually part of every development process and necessary to be successful.

The ETP SMR was launched on March 2005 and officially recognized by the European Commission in September 2008. In 2013 the ETP SMR was born as a legal entity International Association without lucrative purpose.

The ETP SMR focuses its activities on creating sustainable resources potential, access to, and supply of, essential and critical raw materials through research, development and innovation, perfectly in line with the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials proposed by EU, based on three pillars: fostering sustainable supply within the EU, boosting resource efficiency and recycling as well as international collaboration.

The ETP SMR has become over the years a reliable interlocutor of European Institutions, a process that has brought the ETP SMR members to contribute to the SIP for EIP on Raw Materials, develop a Strategic Agenda and commit with the European Commission on the raw materials.

Today the ETP SMR members are 40 located in 16 countries in Europe and beyond. The ETP SMR members are major players from Industry, Research Institutes, Geological Surveys, Academia, and National and European Associations. They are united to address the future technological and societal challenges of the mineral sector, in order to jointly act towards a common vision.