Research & innovation

for a sustainable lifestyle

and economy

Over the years, the European aluminium industry has established as a cross-sectorial innovation catalyst for the circular economy, decarbonisation, and disruptive technologies. From packaging product circularity and process technology to the use of production residue in other sectors, we are truly committed to leveraging the innovation potential of aluminium. At European Aluminium, we bundle this innovation dynamic in our so-called Innovation Hub that brings together the necessary actors from our membership, the broader industry, and RD&I partners.

Our Innovation Hub

We believe in the power of collaboration to translate ideas into concrete projects. In 2015, we established an Innovation Hub, a collaborative platform to accelerate the transformation to a clean and circular Europe for aluminium producers and cross-sector partners. Today, the Innovation Hub counts 18 member companies and three European Aluminium market groups (Building, Packaging and Automotive & Transport) as its members.

What We Do

Initiate EU-Projects

The Innovation Hub facilitates the development of collaborative project proposals for its members and joins proposals under development, especially EU project proposals submitted to the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation funding programme.

Participate in Public-Private Partnerships

The Innovation Hub leverages its extensive stakeholder network, including policymakers, experts, and research institutes, to participate in relevant Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), including Processes4Planet, Made in Europe, and Built4People.

Develop collaborative studies for its members

To address the priority topics defined by its members, the Innovation Hub organises collaborative studies. These studies are developed based on a tendering process to select the best external contributor, to better address the challenges and to contribute to the sustainability targets of the aluminium industry.

Connecting to the research community

The Innovation Hub maintains close ties with Europe’s leading Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) by organising ad-hoc Innovation Workshops for members and stakeholders. The workshops aim to encourage collaboration with the aluminium industry and initiate new project ideas.

Help Us Shape The Future

Are you interested to get more information about our Innovation Hub? Contact us at innovation@european-aluminium.eu. To stay informed about new projects, events, proposals, and innovations from our member companies subscribe to our free Innovation Hub newsletter.

Our Projects

                       

HyInHeat - Hydrogen technologies for decarbonisation of industrial heating processes

Launched in January 2023, HorizonEurope project HyInHeat aims to integrate hydrogen as fuel for high temperature heating processes in the energy intensive industries and in particular for the steel and aluminium sector. European Aluminium is partner of the consortium for communication and dissemination, LCA support and analysis of the current policy framework. The project is expected to run until the end of 2026 and the consortium includes 28 partners. EU Grant Agreement n. 101091456

H2Glass - advancing Hydrogen (H2) technologies and smart production systems TO decarbonise the GLass and Aluminium SectorS

Launched in January 2023, European Aluminium is involved in the HorizonEurope project H2Glass, which aims to create the technology stack that glass manufacturers need to realise 100% H2 combustion in their production facilities and a demonstrator for the aluminium industry to prove the transferability of the technological solutions and underlying models to energy-intensive industries. The project is expected to run until December 2026 and the consortium includes 23 partners. EU Grant Agreement n. 101092153

H2AL: Full-scale Demonstration of Replicable Technologies for Hydrogen Combustion in Hard to Abate Industries: The Aluminium use-case

Launched in January 2024 and expected to run until the end of 2026, the H2AL consortium aims to address the challenges of adopting hydrogen in hard-to-abate industries through a hybrid approach using digital tools and state-of-the-art experimental techniques. The consortium will develop an integrated H2 burner and support system for a heating furnace in an HTAI, specifically the aluminium scrap recycling industry. The project will investigate the impact of H2 combustion on the furnace structure and product quality while minimising emissions. European Aluminium is one of the 9 partners. EU Grant Agreement n. 101137610

ReActiv: Using Bauxite Residue for Sustainable Cement Production

Launched in November 2020, the EU-funded ReActiv project aims to create a novel sustainable symbiotic value chain, linking the by-product of the alumina production industry and the cement production industry. The new ReActiv technologies will modify the properties of the bauxite residue, transforming it into a resource suitable for cement products with a low carbon footprint. ReActiv brings together the global leader in cement production with the European alumina producers and top research and technology centers across 12 European countries. The project is expected to run until November 2024. EU Grant Agreement n. 958208

AlSiCal: Developing a Greener Technology to Produce Alumina

Launched in September 2019, the EU-funded project AlSiCal aims to make the mineral and metal industry more sustainable and environmentally sound. The project will research, develop and de-risk a ground-breaking new technology for alumina production. Integrating carbon capture enables the co-production of three essential raw materials (alumina, silica, and precipitated calcium carbonate) using new resources – e.g., anorthosite, abundantly available worldwide – without generating bauxite residue and CO2 emissions. The project consortium spans 9 European countries and involves 16 partners. It is expected to run until September 2023. EU Grant Agreement n. 820911

SALEMA: Substituting Critical Raw Materials in Aluminium Alloys for Electrical Vehicles

Launched in May 2021, the EU-funded SALEMA project aims to create brand new, high-performance aluminium alloys and demonstrate their suitability in automotive applications.SALEMA will implement a circular economy model to reintegrate scrap aluminium materials into the primary aluminium manufacturing process of car parts. This circular economy will lead to a more sustainable industry and less dependence on non-EU imports. The project consortium spans 6 European countries and involves 16 partners. It is expected to run until May 2024. EU Grant Agreement n. 101003785

CORALIS: Making Industrial Symbiosis a Business Case

Launched in October 2020, the EU-funded project CORALIS aims to create pathways for decarbonising resource and energy-intensive sector value chains by implementing viable industrial symbiosis approaches that combine new business and management strategies with innovative technology-based enablers. This approach will be demonstrated in three real industrial areas covering different sectors, geographical dimensions, and resources, improving the knowledge basis and laying the foundations for exploiting the potential of industrial symbiosis in the EU process industry. The project consortium spans 9 European countries and involves 29 partners. It is expected to run until October 2024. EU Grant Agreement n. 958337  

METABUILDING LABS: Enabling Innovation in the Construction Sector

Launched in January 2021, the EU-funded project METABUILDING LABS aims to unlock the innovation potential, improve competitiveness and boost the market impact of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European construction sector. A large consortium of 40 partners joined forces to provide the construction sector access to over 100 high-value testing facilities (laboratories, test benches, pilot buildings, and living labs) across 12 European countries, allowing stakeholders to develop and test innovative systems and solutions for next-generation buildings. The project is expected to run until January 2026. EU Grant Agreement n. 953193

Skills Alliance for Industrial Symbiosis – a cross-sectoral Blueprint for a Sustainable Process Industry (SPIRE-SAIS)

This Erasmus+ Project aims to develop an industry-driven and proactive skills strategy that will assist the wider implementation and exploitation of industrial symbiosis and energy efficiency across the energy-intensive industrial sectors represented in SPIRE: chemicals, steel, engineering, non-ferrous metals, minerals, water, cement, and ceramics.

aluSELECT database

The Innovation Hub has enabled the redeployment of the aluSELECT database in collaboration with MATPLUS company. AluSELECT, is freely accessible after registration. Currently, it contains numerous information and data about the properties, applications and processability of 35 wrought aluminium alloys and 12 cast alloys which are accessible through a user-friendly and modern multi-criteria search and selection interface.

Innovation Hub Members

European Aluminium Yearly Sponsor