University of Salamanca presents the progress of the Centre of Excellence for Strategic Mineral Resources to ICAMCyL Foundation

The Rector of the University of Salamanca, Juan Manuel Corchado Rodríguez, held a working meeting with representatives of the International Centre for Advanced Materials and Raw Materials of Castile and León (ICAMCyL) to present the progress of the Centre of Excellence for Strategic Mineral Resources and Cross-Border Sustainability (CERMEST). This initiative, led by the University of Salamanca, aims to become a leading scientific, technological and territorial hub for strategic mineral resources and sustainable mining in the Spanish-Portuguese border region.

The meeting was attended by José Ramón Natal, General Coordinator of the ICAMCyL Foundation; Marta Alonso, Business Development Manager at ICAMCyL; Antonio Martínez Graña, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Salamanca; and Rubén Forján, Professor at the University of Salamanca and representative of CERMEST.

During the meeting, the Rector presented the main strategic lines of CERMEST, which has been conceived as a centre of excellence to promote research, knowledge transfer and innovation for the responsible use of mineral resources. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss potential areas of collaboration between ICAMCyL and the University of Salamanca in fields related to research, technological development and specialised training.

In this context, José Ramón Natal highlighted the shared vision of both organisations and the complementary nature of their areas of expertise, which lay the foundations for a strong and fruitful collaboration. He emphasised that this partnership will not only benefit both institutions but also contribute to strengthening innovation, competitiveness and sustainable development across the mining and raw materials value chain in Castile and León.

Promoted by the University of Salamanca in collaboration with the Municipality of Fuentes de Oñoro and with the participation of public and private institutions and organisations from Spain and Portugal, the Centre of Excellence for Strategic Mineral Resources and Cross-Border Sustainability (CERMEST) has been established to strengthen cooperation between universities, public authorities and industry on both sides of the border. Its objective is to foster research, innovation and knowledge transfer in support of sustainable and responsible mining, aligned with the European goals of the energy transition, strategic autonomy and environmental protection.