The concept of “Urban Mining” offers an innovative, sustainable response to the growing demand for critical raw materials essential to Europe's long-term competitiveness and resilience. The Veneto region, with its advanced, technology-driven business ecosystem, is a strategic territory for developing a circular economy that extracts value from waste and secondary resources.
In recent years, Italy has recorded a 51% increase in the use of critical raw materials within industrial production, highlighting a growing reliance on these resources. In particular, sectors such as aerospace, electronics, and automotive are highly exposed to fluctuations in the global raw materials market. Targeted investments in the circular economy could meet up to 32% of national demand for these resources by 2040, significantly reducing import dependence and strengthening the country's economic resilience.
The seminar presented the latest analytical findings, including state-of-the-art technologies for reusing critical raw materials, ongoing research, and the potential impact of dedicated funding incentives such as the PR Veneto ERDF 2021–2027.
Featuring direct insights from businesses, universities, and institutions, the event offered an overview of the opportunities and challenges surrounding urban mining, ongoing initiatives, and future prospects, aiming to outline a sustainable growth path for the region and highlight Veneto’s contribution within the European context.
The event also provided an opportunity to present the results of the project “New Technology for End-of-Life Photovoltaic Panel Recycling”, carried out by 9-Tech and funded through the PR Veneto ERDF 2021–2027 Action 1.1.3B.
The seminar, part of the Innovation thematic area activities, was organized by VSF in collaboration with the City of Venice, Green Propulsion Laboratory – Veritas, and 9-Tech, with support from the Fondazione di Venezia.
CONFERENCE MATERIALS (AVAILABLE IN ITALIAN ONLY):
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS (AVAILABLE IN ITALIAN ONLY):
- Alessandro Costa, Institutional Welcome link
- Francesco La Camera, Introductory Remarks link
- Francesco Galletti, The Reference Policy Framework for Critical Raw Materials and the Potential of Urban Mining link
- Tiziano Mestriner, Assorisorse link
- Noemi Boldrini, EIT Raw Materials link
- Alfredo Rosini, IREN link
- Luigi De Rocchi, HAIKI COBAT link
- Marco Tamarro, ENEA link
- Giuliana Da Villa, Municipal Waste Supply Chains link
- Pietrogiovanni Cerchier, 9-Tech Upcycling Technologies link
- Alberto Nalon, Porto Marghera Photovoltaic Panel Recycling Plant link
