Finnish-Swedish cooperation offers growth opportunities for companies in critical raw materials value chains

The Energy Transition requires critical raw materials, and one of the top priorities of the European Union is to ensure a stable and secure supply of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). Although recycling is important, that alone will not suffice, and the EU's raw material production needs to be boosted. EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) outlines actions allowing EU access to a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials. Since many of the CRMs can be found only in Northern Europe, the regions must collaborate to ensure the success of the CRM Act.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent 99 % of all businesses in the EU. Therefore, SMEs' involvement in the raw materials value chain is crucial. Solving current challenges, unlocking opportunities, and helping SMEs connect to the supply chain are important for the growth of the mining industry.

The SISME-project will tackle this challenge. The project's strategy is to facilitate regional and cross-border collaboration to support SME development in the mining industry.

This initiative represents a significant opportunity for the mining value chains and SMEs of Sweden and Finland to extend their reach beyond domestic borders. It also reinforces the strategic collaboration between Northern regions within the EU framework for Smart Specialization in mining.

Finding new opportunities for SMEs

The joint project between Finland and Sweden received significant funding from the Interreg Aurora Programme. The SISME—Strengthening the Involvement of SMEs in the CRM Value Chains Across Northern Europe -project aims to help SMEs connect to the mining value chain to support the EU's endeavour to secure the availability of critical raw materials. Business Joensuu will lead the project’s implementation.

One of the project's main objectives is to map value chains in mining to identify gaps and opportunities. This groundwork will help develop tools for SMEs to enter the mining value chains, connect SMEs, and support technology transfer.

SISME will create an arena for SMEs to find new opportunities, gain access to knowledge and other resources, and strengthen their competitiveness in Northern Europe's mining and related value chains.

Strengthening the international networks is another primary objective. The SISME project aims to create a Cross-Border Collaboration (CBC) between Finland and Sweden to strengthen mining innovation and build shared value chains. The project will also work on boosting EU cooperation through the S3P Smart Specialisation Partnership on mining.

Special focus will be on promoting sustainability, diversity, circular economy, and digitalisation.

Expanding EU-level collaboration to include businesses

During the project, the SISME partners will map the mining-related value chains and their gaps. Local SMEs technologies can be then identified and selected to be involved to strengthen and complement these complex systems.

A group of forty SMEs will pilot a toolbox designed to help SMEs with innovation development, internationalisation, and integration into the mining-related value chain. The selected SMEs will receive practical support to develop their products, helping them expand their market and begin their international strategy.

The SISME partners will also organise B2B meetings and collaboration possibilities for SMEs with RDI organisations and mining companies. These meetings will help form the essential networks and relationships for SMEs to enter new market sectors.

Ultimately, the project aims to expand the EU-level collaboration between the S3P Regions to include businesses. This will help SMEs leverage this collaboration network to implement their international strategy. It also enables bringing advanced technologies and European companies to Northern Europe, attracting investments.

“We would like this initiative to connect our mining value chains in new ways, opening up collaborative business opportunities across the border. It’s also a strategic step to amplify the innovation profile and footprint of the northern S3 mining regions in Europe.”, says Erik Hagenrud, Senior Business Developer in LTU Business, Sweden.

“We believe that through this project, we can identify the missing technologies and key stakeholders needed to complete and strengthen the sustainable value networks within the mining sector. In particular, we aim to empower local SMEs to realize and reach their full potential as integral parts of this ecosystem”, says Mervi Kontturi, Key Account Manager in Business Joensuu Oy.

Strong project team to support internationalization

Business Joensuu Oy is the lead partner in the SISME project. LTU Business AB will provide business coaching and tools for R&D, branding, and internationalization. Region Västerbotten strongly focuses on intensifying cooperation between regions. Business Oulu and Mining Finland ry. will participate in the project via Oulu Mining School (University of Oulu) and will play a strong role in information transfer, training, and communications.

The project started in September 2025 and is run for three years.

Interreg Aurora is a Programme in the European Union's Interreg community for cross-border cooperation from 2021 to 2027. Its goal is to encourage cross-border collaboration and thereby strengthen the programme area's competitiveness, sustainability, and attractiveness through social inclusion, digitalisation, and just green transition.

The Interreg Aurora funded 21 new cross-border projects during this funding call.

Read more:
Interreg Aurora - New programme for cross-border cooperation 2021-2027

Business Joensuu offers companies services for starting operations, growth and internationalization, investments and location, as well as facilities and event services at the Science Park. Business Joensuu carries out industry-specific development work, creating conditions for the business success and growth of companies in the area. Business Joensuu operates in a region of nine municipalities, 125,000 inhabitants and 7,500 companies.

LTU Business is a consulting firm based in northern Sweden. LUT Business creates growth by combining leading methods and cutting-edge expertise from their unique position at the intersection of academia, industry and the public sector. LTU Business is the TTO and subsidiary of Luleå University of Technology.

The Oulu Mining School (OMS) research unit, which operates within the Faculty of Technology at the University of Oulu, brings together different scientific disciplines around the minerals value chain. Research-based teaching is provided in areas such as ore exploration, mining technology, mineral processing, environmental impact assessment, construction, business, and materials recycling. OMS offers Finland's only mining engineering training program. The OMS premises house a small-scale mineral processing plant that is unique even on a global scale.


Additional information:

Business Joensuu
Key account manager Mervi Kontturi
+358 50 5972876
mervi.kontturi@businessjoensuu.fi

LTU Business
Senior Business Developer Erik Hagenrud
+467 02 374071
erik.hagenrud@ltubusiness.se

University of Oulu
Director of Oulu Mining School Prof. Saija Luukkanen
+358 29448 1444
saija.luukkanen@oulu.fi