ReMag Summer School on Permanent Magnet Recycling & Critical Raw Materials
Hosted at the National Institute of Chemistry of Slovenia. For MSc and PhD students, young researchers, and early-career professionals working on critical raw material and recycling.
About the Summer School
We are thrilled to announce the ReMag Summer School on Permanent Magnet Recycling and Critical Raw Materials, hosted at the National Institute of Chemistry of Slovenia in Ljubljana.
Topic
The summer school focuses on the rapidly growing field of permanent magnet recycling and critical raw materials, an area essential for Europe's green and digital transition. Rare earth permanent magnets are key components in wind turbines, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics, yet Europe remains highly dependent on imports and faces increasing supply-chain risks.
Recycling technologies, ranging from hydrogen processing and molten-salt electrolysis to bioleaching and alloy recovery, offer strategic pathways to secure domestic supply, reduce environmental impact, and support the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act. By bringing together experts from EU-funded projects, research institutes, and industry, the summer school provides participants with an integrated view of the scientific, technological, and industrial advances shaping Europe's circular magnet value chain.
Event Details
When & Where
6 May 2026
Ljubljana, Slovenia
National Institute of Chemistry
Format
Great Lecture Hall
Hybrid event
Online participation available
Audience
MSc & PhD students
Young researchers
Early-career professionals
Agenda
A full-day programme covering REE recycling, battery circularity, mining sustainability, industrial perspectives, a laboratory visit and an open discussion.
| Time | Topic | Presenter | Project / Organisation | Contributors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 – 9:15 | ReMag introduction | José Pinheiro-Torres (PT) | ReMag / N9VE | — |
| 9:15 – 9:30 | Recycling Nd/Pr/Dy from wind turbine magnets | Bruna Silva (PT) | ReMag / N9VE | — |
| 9:30 – 9:45 | The way of recycling SmCo permanent magnets | Marko Soderžnik (SI) | NIC | Ilja Gasan Osojnik Črnivec, Blaž Likozar |
| 9:45 – 10:00 | Recycling of magnets and magnetic swarf using hydrogen plasma | Patricia & Matic Jovičevič-Klug (DE) | MaRS / HyROX-F / SustainWEEM | — |
| ☕ Coffee break (15 min) | ||||
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Recycling of magnets using molten salt electrolysis | Alen Rupnik (SI) | NdCycle | Blaž Likozar |
| 10:30 – 10:45 | Recycling lithium from LFP batteries | Blaž Likozar (SI) | CIRCUBATT | Marko Gabrovšek |
| 10:45 – 11:00 | Robotic disassembly and circular recycling of Li-ion batteries | Alen Rupnik (SI) | RISBAT | Blaž Likozar |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Extraction of CRMs by bioleaching and remediation | Patricia & Matic Jovičevič-Klug (DE) | DeToxRed | — |
| ☕ Coffee break (15 min) | ||||
| 11:30 – 11:45 | Carbon footprint monitoring in mining | Nina Lokar (SI) | DINAMINE | Blaž Likozar |
| 11:45 – 12:00 | Establishing the Critical Raw Materials Laboratory | Benjamin Podmiljšak (SI) | Jožef Stefan Institute | Sašo Šturm, Kristina Žužek, Gašper Tavčar |
| 12:00 – 12:15 | Wind turbines | Harri Vihräelä (DE) | ReMag / Enercon | — |
| 12:15 – 12:30 | Renewables in Iberia: Innovation and Sustainable Value | Gabriela Guedes / Thayná Camões (PT) | ReMag / Galp | — |
| 🍽️ Lunch break (120 min) | ||||
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Laboratory visit | Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering, NIC | ||
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Magneti Ljubljana d.d. | Gregor Tegeltija (SI) | Magneti Ljubljana | — |
| 16:00 – 17:00 | Open discussion | Moderator: Blaž Likozar, NIC | ||
Full programme also available as a printable image: Download agenda (PNG) ↗
National Institute of Chemistry (NIC), Slovenia
The National Institute of Chemistry in Slovenia is an internationally recognised research organisation in the field of chemistry and related disciplines. It employs over 400 researchers in 8 departments and 3 infrastructure centres (2024).
The Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering is primarily involved in chemical (process) engineering, reactor and unit operation design and construction, as well as multi-scale process modelling. Research topics include carbon dioxide and natural gas conversion, hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, biomass valorisation to bio-based compounds, and (bio)pharmaceutical processes.
NIC's role in the ReMag project is leading the Work Package on Pre-site pilot optimisation and validation of the ReMag technology, while it is also going to contribute to the scale-up study and the environmental assessment.
Main Organiser: Nina Lokar, NIC
Speakers & Presentations
Researchers and industry leaders from EU-funded projects, research institutes and major energy companies.
José Pinheiro-Torres
Founder and CEO of N9VE, a Portuguese innovation-driven start-up active in scientific research and development with a strong focus on sustainable technologies. He leads N9VE's strategic direction and has been actively representing the company and the ReMag project at major European events, including WindEurope's EoLIS 2025, where he presented N9VE's approach to recovering rare earths from end-of-life magnets and strengthening Europe's circular supply chain. His contribution provides participants with an industry-driven perspective on innovation, business creation, and the deployment of CRM recycling technologies.
Dr. Bruna Silva
Chief Innovation Officer at N9VE, where she leads the company's innovation strategy in sustainable technologies and critical raw materials recovery. She holds a PhD in Chemical and Biological Engineering and has over a decade of research experience in environmental biotechnology and rare earth element recovery, supported by 40 peer-reviewed publications. Her contribution provides participants with an innovation-driven perspective on REE recovery and the development of sustainable CRM technologies.
Dr. Matic Jovičević-Klug
Group Leader of Sustainable Magnets and Recycling at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials. His work focuses on the development, processing, and recycling of magnetic materials, with expertise spanning magnetism-based characterisation of metals and alloys, sustainable metallurgy, hydrogen plasma-based reduction, and hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron ores. His research also covers thermal processing of alloys and its implications for microstructure and material properties. He brings advanced insights into sustainable magnet technologies and state-of-the-art approaches to CRM recycling.
Dr. Patricia Jovičević-Klug
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Fellow working in the Department of Interface Chemistry and Surface Engineering at the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials. Her research interests include material analytics, functional materials for energy applications, synchrotron and neutron-based characterisation, corrosion, surface science, nanotechnology, catalytic metal oxides, isotope geochemistry, and sustainable recycling of critical raw materials. Her participation brings a strong materials-science and surface-engineering perspective to the programme.
Alen Rupnik
Doctoral researcher at NIC, working within the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering. He is specialising in electrochemical systems, redox reactions, and electrocatalytic processes. His work spans modern production technologies, including 3D printing, advanced electrochemical methods, and the design of innovative reactor systems for chemical processes such as hydrochloric acid electrolysis and molten magnesium salt electrolysis. He will present the NdCycle2 project on scaling up neodymium recovery from end-of-life NdFeB magnets, and the RISBAT project on sustainable pre-treatment solutions for waste lithium-ion batteries.
Dr. Marko Soderžnik
PhD in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, Dr. Soderžnik is a materials scientist with extensive expertise in nanotechnology, magnetics, and advanced materials processing. He contributes in magnetics, materials design, and nanostructured systems to ongoing research and innovation activities. His participation brings a strong scientific perspective on magnet development, microstructure optimisation, and the broader field of critical raw materials.
Prof. Blaž Likozar
Head of the Department of Catalysis and Chemical Reaction Engineering at the National Institute of Chemistry (NIC), Slovenia, where he leads the Chemical Reaction Engineering programme and numerous European research projects. His expertise spans heterogeneous catalysis, chemical reaction engineering, multi-scale modelling, transport phenomena, and process optimisation. He will present work on the recycling of lithium from end-of-life batteries, offering insight into emerging approaches for recovering critical materials essential for the energy transition.
Dr. Nina Lokar
PhD in Biosciences, Dr. Lokar is a postdoctoral researcher at NIC, working in interdisciplinary teams at the intersection of natural sciences, engineering, and sustainability. She focuses on emerging approaches in data-driven resource management, monitoring technologies, and sustainable mining practices. She will present the DINAMINE project, aimed at improving the sustainability, efficiency, and safety of mining operations through digitalisation, advanced monitoring, and innovative process optimisation. She is also the Main Organiser of this summer school.
Dr. Benjamin Podmiljšak
PhD in Nanotechnology, Dr. Podmiljšak is an experienced researcher at the Jožef Stefan Institute with a strong background in materials science, nanotechnology, and advanced characterisation techniques. His expertise spans nanomaterials, magnetic materials, spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and surface-analysis methods. He will present the initiative to establish a Critical Raw Materials Laboratory, outlining its planned capabilities and its role in strengthening national and European research infrastructure for CRM characterisation, testing, and innovation.
Harri Vihräelä
Experienced professional in the renewable energy sector, working within ENERCON's Key Corporate Technology division. He leads expert teams focused on the development of permanent magnet generators for wind power and other applications, and has been involved in steering non-profit initiatives related to renewable energy. His responsibilities include project management and acting as a key contact for ENERCON's wind power business in India. He will present industrial perspectives on wind-turbine technologies and the role of advanced generator systems in Europe's renewable-energy transition.
Gabriela Guedes & Thayná Camões
Thayná Camões is a Project Manager at Galp's Innovation Center, contributing to the development of innovative solutions across the company's renewable-energy portfolio. Together with Gabriela Guedes from Galp, they will present "Renewables in Iberia: Innovation and Sustainable Value", offering an overview of the renewable-energy landscape across the Iberian Peninsula and the innovation pathways shaping its future.
Gregor Tegeltija
Commercial Director of Magneti Ljubljana d.d., a leading European producer of permanent magnets and magnetic assemblies. With extensive experience in industrial magnet technologies and international supply chains, he oversees commercial strategy, customer relations, and market development across sectors such as automotive, electric motors, rail, and energy systems. At the summer school, he will present the industrial perspective on permanent magnet production and raw material needs, highlighting how manufacturers navigate supply constraints, quality requirements, and the growing demand for rare earth elements. His contribution connects the scientific and technological discussions with real-world industrial challenges, offering participants a clear view of how raw materials, recycling, and magnet manufacturing interact within Europe's circular value chain.
