On 10 April 2025, the I4-GREEN project hosted its Final Results & Impact Session at Club Financiero Génova in Madrid, where key stakeholders gathered to present and discuss the outcomes of two major pilot initiatives focused on sustainable raw materials recovery across Europe.
Milena Stoyanova, Project Advisor at the Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME), highlighted the project’s strategic role in strengthening Europe’s autonomy in raw material supply through green technologies.
The session showcased the achievements of the IHO and ATALAYA / LAIN TECH pilots—two successful examples of circular, SME-led innovation.
Pilot Highlights
Raúl Fernández Abad, CEO of Leonore Development, presented the IHO pilot, which demonstrated the circular recovery of iron ore (71% Fe) and rare earth elements (17,000 PPM TREO) from tailings. The pilot combined environmental innovation with regional impact through closed-loop water use, renewable energy, and local job creation.
The ATALAYA / LAIN TECH pilot was presented by Eva Lain and José Ángel Borrego, who showcased the E-LIX™ hydrometallurgical process for copper and zinc recovery from complex sulphides. The process reached industrial validation, delivered up to 90% CO₂ reduction, and demonstrated strong potential for replication across the Iberian Pyrite Belt and other polymetallic deposits.
Looking Ahead
The event concluded with a Q&A session, reflecting on investment, replication, and future scaling opportunities. Both pilots underline the importance of SME-driven innovation and regional collaboration in developing cleaner, more efficient supply chains for critical raw materials in Europe.
To explore the full results: