Advancing sustainable supply of raw materials through EU-Canada cooperation

EU-Canada relations were given renewed prominence in the 2026 State of the Union address, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen highlighted plans to further deepen the cooperation, including on the Arctic, energy, critical minerals and batteries. 

The EU and Canada have a long-standing partnership spanning trade, research and innovation, including cooperation on raw materials. In 2021, they established a strategic partnership on raw materials to strengthen the security and sustainability of supply chains and deepen cooperation on raw material value chains, research and innovation, and environmental, social and governance standards. According to European Commission figures, between 2017 and 2022 EU imports of base metals from Canada increased by 143%, while imports of minerals grew by 131%.

Cooperation has continued to develop in recent years. Canada became associated to Pillar II of Horizon Europe in July 2024, enabling Canadian researchers and organisations to participate in collaborative research projects on almost the same terms as their EU counterparts. At the 2025 EU-Canada Summit, the two sides also agreed to explore opportunities for co-investment and facilitate the exchange of investment and expertise in raw materials.

Against this backdrop, research and innovation can help translate shared priorities into practical solutions. Discover two EU-funded projects with Canadian participation that are advancing more sustainable and efficient approaches to the exploration, extraction and processing of raw materials:

• BOREAS is developing new technologies to support more sustainable and efficient mining in the Arctic. The project focuses on the Malmbjerg deposit in Greenland, one of the world's largest untapped molybdenum deposits, with significant magnesium by-products.
  Mining in the Arctic presents particular challenges, including harsh weather conditions, fragile ecosystems and high operational costs. BOREAS addresses these challenges by deploying autonomous aerial and ground robots equipped with advanced sensors to map, monitor and selectively remove contaminant layers that can affect ore quality and increase environmental risks.
  The data collected will feed into a real-time digital twin, a virtual model of the mine designed to predict contamination, guide operations and support environmental compliance. Through these technologies, BOREAS aims to contribute to more sustainable, traceable and efficient mining in sensitive environments. 

• BLOOM is developing and demonstrating technologies to improve the extraction and processing of critical raw materials and strengthen EU supply chains. The project aims to increase efficiency through a smart and modular solids analysis system, combining online mineral analysis with advanced control systems and AI-driven operations.

  BLOOM's technologies are designed to provide detailed information on mineral composition, size distribution and other properties, helping optimise extraction and processing operations. The project also aims to lower costs, improve the financial viability of mining operations and facilitate access to new supplies, including low-grade deposits.

  The technologies will be validated in real-world conditions at pilot demonstration sites, with applications focusing on materials including tantalum, niobium, copper and cobalt. The project brings together partners from the EU and beyond, including Canada, Ukraine and Brazil, to develop more efficient and sustainable approaches to critical raw materials extraction and processing.