The European Horizon-funded project S34I successfully concluded its final meetings and conference from 11 to 13 June 2025 in Vigo, Spain. Over three days, the S34I consortium brought together partners, stakeholders, and experts from across Europe to showcase the project’s key outcomes and shape the future of sustainable raw materials exploration.
Day 1 – Project Review and Field Visit
On 11 June, the final General Assembly and Project Review sessions took place, kicking off with welcoming remarks from Ana Teodoro (University of Porto) and Grazyna Krywkowsk (European Commission). Each work package leader presented the achievements and challenges faced over the course of the project:
WP1 – Coordination: Highlighted management success and transnational cooperation.
WP2 – Earth Observation Tools: Delivered insights into the application of EO for sustainable extractive industries.
WP3 – Geospatial Modelling: Demonstrated key advancements in data processing.
WP4 – EO Services in Mining: Showcased digital tools for mining innovation.
WP5 – Field Trials: Shared final evaluations of pilot site activities.
WP6 – Communication & Stakeholder Engagement: Reflected on outreach and impact.
The day concluded with a site visit to the Ría de Vigo pilot location at Vao Beach, where participants explored placer deposits and the integration of remote sensing technologies in field applications.
Day 2 – S34I Final Conference: #FromSkyToSoil
The S34I Final Conference was held on 12 June under the theme “#FromSkyToSoil: Exploring Earth. Empowering Europe.”. This open event gathered voices from academia, industry, policy, and technology sectors.
Key highlights included:
S34I results presentation by the University of Porto.
Showcase of EU-funded sister projects, including m4mining, GAIA-TSF, GoldenRAM, UNDERCOVER project, GSEU – Geological Service for Europe, and FIERCE Project
Expert roundtables discussing Europe’s path to strategic autonomy in raw materials and the role of innovation in sustainable exploration.
In the afternoon, a high-profile keynote by Dr Arnoldus M. van den Hurk set the tone for an engaging stakeholder elevator pitch session, featuring Gerardo Herrera (DG GROW), JOSE VALDES SUAREZ (Cobre San Rafael), Álvaro Silva Teira (AIMEN Centro Tecnológico), Irene Pérez Cáceres (Cámara Oficial Minera de Galicia), and Luis Miguel Varela Cabo (Universidade de Santiago de Compostela).
Day 3 – From the Lab to Nature
On 13 June, participants explored the Cíes Islands and nearby mussel farms, reflecting on the delicate balance between industrial innovation and ecological preservation. This final activity symbolised the project’s core vision: leveraging science and Earth Observation to safeguard both industry and environment.
Why S34I Matters
S34I has delivered cutting-edge solutions to monitor and evaluate critical raw material resources in Europe using satellite data, geospatial modelling, and stakeholder-driven innovation. The project strengthens the EU’s ambition for strategic autonomy, enabling sustainable growth without compromising environmental or social standards.
With its final conference in Vigo, S34I not only closed a successful chapter but also laid the groundwork for future initiatives in the raw materials value chain.
