The circular economy ecosystem being developed around Outokumpu’s Kemi Mine has progressed during the summer from idea generation towards concrete collaboration initiatives and pilot projects. The ecosystem developers will host a networking event in Rovaniemi on 10 November to review current progress, present upcoming initiatives and discuss the next steps needed to advance the ecosystem.
The Ice Cave workshop “Creating Value from Kemi Mine Side Streams – A Mining Ecosystem Supporting Circular Economy Solutions at Kemi Mine” attracted strong interest among participants at the ACEF 2026 forum on 3 June. Project Manager Ida Paaso from Lapland Mining Hub facilitated the workshop twice during the afternoon. Photo: Videcam.
The networking event will provide an opportunity to hear how the circular economy ecosystem around Kemi Mine is evolving from concepts into practical cooperation and pilot activities.
Participants will learn how ideas have been developed further, what kinds of pilot projects and collaboration initiatives are being launched, and what new partnership opportunities the ecosystem can offer.
The event will take place in Rovaniemi on 10 November and will bring together companies, research organisations, developers and public-sector stakeholders to discuss new opportunities for utilising mining side streams and to build new connections. The aim is also to identify the next development steps needed to expand the circular economy ecosystem around the mine.
Both Finnish and international stakeholders are welcome to participate. In 2026, the focus is particularly on Finnish partners that can benefit from the opportunities available in the Kemi region.
The event is especially relevant for companies and organisations working in:
material processing and utilisation
circular economy and environmental technologies
The Kemi Mine generates significant volumes of side streams each year. These materials offer opportunities in areas such as soil improvement, low-carbon construction materials, carbon dioxide sequestration, thermal energy storage and mineral recovery.
The ecosystem creates a platform for developing new solutions based on open data, research collaboration and industrial partnerships.
The goal of the Kemi Mine circular economy ecosystem is to create the first European operating model for the utilisation of mining side streams. This unique initiative is built on transparent mining data that can help identify new applications, technologies and business opportunities.
Together with Outokumpu, the ecosystem is being developed by the EU-funded Lapland Mining Hub project, Digipolis Ltd. in Kemi, and research partners VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and Geological Survey of Finland (GTK).
https://lapin-liitto-lv.creamailer.fi/survey/answer/ge8kbcgo2mlrc?hsCtaAttrib=483514913014
Please note that remote participation is not available.
Further Information:
Company partnerships and business collaboration Tuomas Pussila Circular Economy Centre tuomas.pussila@digipolis.fi
Stakeholder relations Ida Paaso Regional Council of Lapland ida.paaso@lapinliitto.fi