Vision 2050

VERAM looks to the future economic development of the European Union (EU) and will deliver a long-term 2050 vision and roadmap to achieve economic growth and restructuring and technological leadership along relevant value chains.

It attempts to define different targets along a time axis and identify actions to achieve these.

To achieve the Vision 2050, the VERAM partnership will review existing foresight studies from various sources, Strategic Research Agendas of the EU’s European Technology Platforms (ETPs), consult with representatives of major stakeholder networks along the different raw material value chains, represented by the ETPs, the ERA-NETs as well as the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) on Raw Materials.

Project Objectives

VERAM aims to provide the umbrella and coordination function for raw materials related research and innovation activities that address security and sustainability of supply from EU and non-EU sources and creates new synergistic effects due to linking of biotic and non-biotic resources. It intends to develop strategies to bring these innovations to the market and develop recommendations for future research and innovation related policy actions.

Impact

VERAM was designed to help society to address Societal Challenges by a more sustainable and resource-efficient use of raw materials and to help reap the benefits of a growing circular economy.

The latest increase in funding of raw materials related issues through the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials, the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KIC) and national funding programmes risk increasing fragmentation and lack of coordination in both primary and secondary raw materials areas. A comprehensive masterplan is missing. VERAM will provide it through: 

• improving co-ordination of EU and Member States’ research and innovation programmes and funded activities;

• stimulating research and innovation with the highest possible societal value and return on Research and Technology Development (RTD) investment and thus create new enabling technologies and materials;

• optimising the economic leverage effect of investment in research and innovation.