The European project Rotate, coordinated by the Spanish Aggregates Association (ANEFA) and funded by the European Commission under the Horizon programme, has convened its International Advisory Board (IAB) 2026, a key strategic forum bringing together leading experts, stakeholders, and representatives from across the extractive sector.

Chaired by César Luaces, Director General of ANEFA and project coordinator, the meeting reaffirmed Rotate’s role as “an essential project in today’s panorama”, addressing critical challenges such as emissions reduction, resource efficiency, circularity, and social engagement within the extractive industries.

A platform for strategic guidance and industry alignment

The International Advisory Board plays a central role in the project by providing external expertise, strategic guidance, and independent feedback, ensuring that Rotate remains aligned with industry needs, policy priorities, and societal expectations.

The project brings together a strong consortium of 21 partners from 9 European countries, supported by a diverse network of stakeholders and mining-related initiatives, reinforcing its European dimension and impact.

Advancing innovation across the value chain

During the meeting, the consortium presented significant progress across the project’s main innovation areas:

  • Advanced processing solutions, including technologies to increase mineral recovery and extract critical raw materials (CRMs) from aggregates production, are currently under industrial validation.
  • Efficiency improvements, such as energy-efficient mobile crushing systems, innovative rock characterisation methods, and artificial vision systems, delivering measurable reductions in energy consumption and CO₂ emissions.
  • Monitoring and environmental management tools, including a comprehensive Environmental Management Platform and modules covering energy, water, emissions, soil, biodiversity, and ecosystem risk.
  • Circular valorization pathways, enabling the reuse of sludges and mine tailings in applications such as 3D printing and construction materials, support the transition towards a circular economy.

Social engagement and policy integration

Rotate continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to social and policy dimensions, with more than 200 actions carried out involving society and policymakers, aimed at fostering transparency, improving public acceptance, and supporting evidence-based policymaking.

Towards the final phase of the project

Following extensive research, piloting, and collaboration since 2022, Rotate is approaching its final milestone. The Final Workshop, to be held on 6 May 2026 in Brussels, will showcase the project’s key results, technologies, and methodologies, under the theme “From Extraction to Circularity: Defining Sustainable Mining”.

The International Advisory Board remains instrumental in ensuring that Rotate’s outcomes deliver long-lasting impact, supporting the transformation of the European extractive industry towards a more sustainable, efficient, and circular model.