TNO–Geological Survey of the Netherlands (TNO-GDN) and the South African Council for Geoscience (CGS) are strengthening their partnership in the fields of critical raw materials, geosciences and CO2 reduction. The co-operation is partly supported by the Netherlands Materials Observatory (NMO).
This step is in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed prior to the G20 summit in November last year.
This strategic partnership focuses on developing projects related to the exploration, extraction, refining and recycling of raw materials. The goal is to stimulate economic development and local employment in South Africa, while strengthening security of supply for the European Union.
Research and innovation
Through this collaboration, TNO-GDN and CGS are giving concrete form to their ambition to strengthen research and innovation within the minerals and metals value chains. This partnership is also supported by the EU’s Global Gateway PanAfGeo+.
Geo+ programme and the NMO
In the coming period, both organisations will work toward a MoU, which will further formalise the partnership. In addition, they are preparing the kickoff of the Country Window South Africa: the joint research and innovation programme through which concrete activities will be carried out.
The partnership came after the first day of the Mining Indaba, where a delegation from the NMO, GDN and TNO was present. Attending Mining Indaba gave the organisations the chance to strengthen existing partnerships and take new steps toward joint initiatives within sustainable and strategic value chains.