MIN-NOVATION aims to create a transnational network with regional networks as building blocks of effective multi-lateral cooperation. The activities carried out on the regional and transnational level will secure better access to knowledge, state-of-the-art technologies and good practice to SMEs active in the mineral waste management & prevention sector. The project will address all the waste management challenges and opportunities, which face the BSR mining industry, which should be understood as extending to all forms of extraction of natural non-renewable resources. The partnership consists of 11 core partners, who represent 5 EU-27 countries and Norway, and who include both local/regional authorities and innovation sources. The countries represented are PL, DE, FI, EE, SE, NO. The project activities will be facilitated by the commitment to participate by an additional 15 associated organisations representing mining industry stakeholder associations and/or national government bodies.

The main project activities will be:
► (in WP3) the organisation of regional networks in 6 BS regions, the organisation of a transnational (Baltic) network, which will provide transnational feedback to national/regional issues and which will also secure the participation of regional, national and international stakeholder organisations at key moments throughout the project;
► (in WP4) the development of guidelines for action, including on the transnational level and the working groups, which will help implement them;
► (in WP5) the completion of transnational pilot investments, including follow-up activities, and follow up on the guidelines.

The main transnational outputs will be:
► (in WP3) SME database, a series of reports on the status of mine waste management in the BS region;
► (in WP4) compendium of technologies for waste management/prevention, Baltic guidelines and Declaration on Waste Management & Prevention;
► (in WP5) 4 pilot investments with follow-up activities.

The main expected results are a sustainable multi-sector network for supporting transfer of knowledge and innovation in the BSR to SMEs as well as sustainable regional networks carrying out activities meant to strengthen the SME sector in given countries of the BSR and influence policy related to mining and mineral processing waste management. A related expected result is a common, BSR-wide approach to select mining sector growth issues and effective action by the MIN-NOVATION transnational network on knowledge transfer issues found in EU-level policies on waste management/prevention and mining. MIN-NOVATION is the response to a clear need to tackle waste management/prevention issues for the entire life cycle of the mine and from a legal, financial and economic perspective, which requires multi-sector involvement. The relevance of addressing this topic is obvious if one notes that 29% of the total waste generated in the EU each year is from some type of mining activity.