Regional Innovation Scheme Project for Exploration Capabilities and Technologies

RISPECT

Regional Innovation Scheme for Exploration Capabilities and Technologies
Accelerating sustainable discovery of Critical Raw Materials in RIS countries. Targeting 20% lower exploration costs and 40% lower CO₂ emissions through synthetic hyperspectral imagery, advanced ground-penetrating radar, and a real-time AI platform.

Integrated AI platform

for real-time geological insights and decision support.

Synthetic hyperspectral imagery

from multispectral sources for accurate mineral mapping.

Spectral GPR (SGPR)

for automated subsurface scanning and imaging.

Why it matters

Europe seeks secure, responsible access to CRMs. RISPECT aligns with the EU Green Deal and EIT RawMaterials strategy, building skills, reducing environmental footprint, and strengthening regional innovation.

exploration costs

- 0 %

CO₂ emissions (targets)

- 0 %

stakeholders engaged via
demos and workshops

0 +

Objectives & Scope

The EU imports ~98% of REEs and ~44% of other CRMs. Policy targets include increasing domestic supply and limiting single-country dependency. Data-driven exploration improves precision and cuts costs; RISPECT applies these advances to RIS regions.

01.

Enhance two exploration technologies: synthetic hyperspectral imagery and SGPR.

02.

Build the RISPECT-AI platform to integrate data and deliver real-time insights, targeting −20% costs and −40% CO₂.

03.

Increase Social License to Operate via stakeholder engagement.

04.

Demonstrate in Albania for six months; assess transferability with the Ukrainian Geological Survey.

05.

Build a 100-member cluster through workshops, demos and dissemination.

06.

Establish a spin-off for long-term sustainability.

RISPECT is co-developed by research institutions, SMEs and geological surveys in RIS countries to enable efficient, low-impact exploration of Critical Raw Materials through an integrated AI platform, synthetic hyperspectral imagery and spectral ground-penetrating radar. The project runs from February 2025 to December 2026.

Alignment & Impact

Aligned with the EU Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, Responsible Sourcing Lighthouse, and EIT RM RIS strategy; contributes to SDGs 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13.

Core impact indicators include validation by two geological surveys, 25 early adopters, 100+ trained stakeholders, and reductions in cost and emissions.

Approach

Technology enhancement

by WIDMO and FOUR POINT

AI platform

led by SAISLAB, validated on historical and simulated datasets, with interactive 3D visualization.

Capacity building

and stakeholder co-creation coordinated by SEC and RIC Albania.