Project Description

The program was approved by Council of Ministers Decision No. 508/18.07.2024 and is funded by the Ministry of Education and Science (Agreement No. D01206/08.11.2024). It is implemented by a consortium consisting of 14 scientific organizations and universities. The main objective of the Program is to conduct fundamental and applied scientific research to establish Bulgaria's potential for critical and strategic raw materials, including research, environmentally friendly extraction, and efficient processing of: a) primary natural resources using innovative methods and extraction of main and accompanying elements; b) waste from their processing (including from current and future deposits of critical raw materials); c) secondary resources (resulting from recycling). An assessment of the social effects of the use of raw materials and studies to reduce and prevent the harmful impact of their extraction and processing on the environment (water, soil, river sediments, and air) are also planned. The activities planned to achieve these objectives are divided in the Program's work plan into seven main thematic work packages and three horizontal packages aimed at summarizing and presenting the overall results of the Program.