The VECTOR project (Vectors to Accessible Critical Raw Material Resources in Sedimentary Basins) is an EU-funded initiative under Horizon Europe, aiming to bolster Europe's resilience in the supply of critical raw materials essential for the green and digital transitions.

Recognizing that the EU imports 80% of its industrial raw materials, VECTOR seeks to unlock Europe's mineral potential by addressing both technical and societal challenges. The project focuses on:

• Innovative Exploration Techniques: Developing machine learning-based tools for less invasive geological, geochemical, and geophysical measurements, validated across three European sedimentary basins.
• Social Acceptance Framework: Creating a Social Acceptance Index to understand public values and perspectives on mineral development, ensuring community engagement and support.
• Integrated Assessment Platform: Building an interactive, self-learning platform that combines geological data with socio-economic factors to guide sustainable exploration and mining decisions.

Coordinated by Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, VECTOR brings together 18 partners from seven countries, uniting geosciences and social sciences to pave the way for responsible mineral exploration in Europe.

Learn more: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101058483