The European International Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Resource Management (ICE-SRM EU), a EuroGeoSurveys initiative operated by the Geological Survey of Slovenia, has been officially launched, marking a significant milestone in the GSEU project and a major step forward in supporting Europe’s sustainable and secure supply of natural resources.
The launch event took place in Nova Gorica - Gorizia, the 2025 European Capital of Culture, symbolising the cross-border collaboration and global outlook of the Centre. The event was opened by Samo Turel, Mayor of the Municipality of Nova Gorica, who welcomed participants and expressed strong support for the Centre’s mission.
Miloš Bavec, Director at Geological Survey of Slovenia, and Meta Dobnikar, Mineral Resources & Geochemistry Department Head at Geological Survey of Slovenia, presented the vision and goals of ICE-SRM EU. They emphasised how the Centre will contribute to the European Union’s capacity on Critical Raw Materials by integrating data on natural resources and fostering scientific cooperation.
The event also featured insights from high-level speakers:
- Dario Liguti, Director of Sustainable Energy at UNECE
- Robert Tomas, Policy Officer at the European Commission’s DG GROW
- Tanja Vertelj, Deputy Director General at Science and Innovation Directorate, RS Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
Each speaker highlighted the strategic importance of ICE-SRM EU in addressing resource challenges not only within Europe, but globally.
To conclude the evening, the SToP Percussion Group captivated the audience with their Sound of Stone performance, a unique musical experience using stone instruments that brought raw materials to life in a truly artistic way.
Learn more about ICE-SRM EU here.
