On the way to a national resource institute
Partner and Founding
The HIF was founded in 2011 in the frame of the The German Government’s raw materials strategy. It emerged from a joint application by the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, to which the HIF belongs, and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, with which the institute is closely associated in research and teaching. Building on the competencies of both institutions in the resource sector, the HIF researchers have broad expertise and excellent infrastructures along the entire raw material cycle in order to develop solutions for the sustainable use of resources.
At the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, also known as the Resource University in Saxony, teaching and research are carried out along the value chain for a sustainable materials and energy management in the four subject areas geo, materials, energy and environment. With its expertise in the areas such as geo-biotechnology, resource ecology and fluid dynamics the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf makes an important contribution to the institute´s research.
The Research at the HIF is accompanied by a scientific advisory board.
27.08.2024 || Inauguration Plasma Furnace
A high-performance plasma furnace, including the associated exhaust gas purification system, expands the research activities at the metallurgy pilot plant of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF). Saxony's Science Minister Sebastian Gemkow inaugurated the research infrastructure with a symbolic act on August 27, 2024. The melting furnace with plasma torch brings the institute a great deal closer to a real circular economy, as new recycling technologies can be developed and existing ones optimized. Plasma technology will make it possible to compare the quality of recycled materials, known as secondary raw materials, with that of primary raw materials. This will make it much easier for companies to increase the proportion of recycled materials used in their products in future, thereby reducing their carbon footprint. To the Press Release (only in German). |
01.03.2023 || New Department Leader Process Metallurgy
Since the beginning of March, Dr Ajay Patil has headed the Process Metallurgy department at HIF. Thus, a key role at the institute and on the way to a sustainable circular economy for mineral and metalliferous raw materials has been reoccupied. In this interview, Dr Patil introduces himself and outlines his short- and long-term goals within Process Metallurgy. Welcome at the HIF! To the interview. |
01.10.2021 || PD Dr. Simone Raatz appointed as Administrative Director of the HIF
As of 1 October, PD Dr. Simone Raatz will take over as Administrative Director of the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). With this appointment, she will devote more time to the further strategic orientation of the HIF and the gradual expansion of the research campus for resource technology and sustainability at the Freiberg site. The focus is on how resources and energy can be used much more efficiently and sustainably in the future. To this end, the pilot plant located on the campus is to be expanded into the pilot-scale research infrastructure FlexiPlant. Together with the recently opened Metallurgy pilot plant, these two research infrastructures will represent a globally unique platform for the digitalised, flexible and agile processing of mineral and metalliferous raw materials. The chemist with a doctorate and habilitation in engineering has been employed at the HZDR since 2017 and is responsible for the topics of strategy and science management for the HIF. |
09.09.2021 || Inauguration metallurgy pilot plant and 10th anniversary
At its tenth anniversary, the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) opened a new research infrastructure for recycling strategic metals on a pilot scale on Thursday, 9 September 2021. With the metallurgy pilot plant, the HZDR institute is significantly expanding its research competencies in the fields of metallurgy and recycling and thus in the circular economy. To the Press Release (only in German) |
17.10.2018 || Ground-breaking ceremony for new metallurgy pilot plant
With the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony, the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology (HIF) marked the start of the construction for the new metallurgy pilot plant on Wednesday, 17 October. The institute is further expanding its research into the sustainable extraction and recycling of strategic resources. The Free State of Saxony finances the new building with a total of 10.2 million euros. |
17.06.2016 || New main location opened and 5th anniversary
Employees now have their own state-of-the-art laboratories as well as offices and effective space on around 3,000 square meters. The Saxon State Minister for Science and Art, Dr. Eva-Maria Stange, inaugurated the new main location at a festive event. To the Press Release |
01.09.2015 || Technology director of the Finnish company Outotec new codirector at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg
With Professor Markus Reuter, the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology has won an internationally recognized expert for metal recycling and sustainable technologies on September 1, 2015. As director at the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology of the HZDR, Reuter wants to intensify his research work on the “Internet of Things”, i.e. on the material and energy-efficient circular economy 4.0 of metallic raw materials. |
19.11.2013 || Symbolic handover of the baton from the city of Freiberg to the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg
A symbolic act in the presence of numerous representatives from science, industry and administration marked the beginning of the interior renovation at the future institute location (Chemnitzer Straße 40, Freiberg). To the Press Release |
29.08.2011 || Founding
With the handover of a symbolic silver key, Federal Research Minister Prof. Annette Schavan founded the Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology together with the Saxon Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich on August 29, 2011. At the end of 2010, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) accepted the joint proposal of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Helmholtz -Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf for an institute for resource technology, following the vote of an international expert committee. |
06.06.2011 || Helmholtz senate approves the founding
The Senate of the Helmholtz Association approves the plan to found the new Institute for Resource Technology in Freiberg. Its aim is to research technologies to secure the supply of raw materials, to use raw materials more efficiently and to recycle them in an environmentally friendly way. "The Helmholtz Institute in Freiberg will develop new solutions to raw material issues and secure the future," says Prof. Jürgen Mlynek, President of the Helmholtz Association. Founding Director appointedProf. Jens Gutzmer was appointed as founding director by the board of the HZDR. |
28.03.2011 || Cooperation agreement signed
In the Saxon State Ministry for Science and Art, the cooperation agreement between the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf was signed on March 28, 2011 in the presence of State Minister Prof. Dr. Sabine von Schorlemer. The contract is a necessary prerequisite for the establishment of the joint Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology. |
17.12.2010 || The new Resource Technology Institute is beeing established in Freiberg
The new Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology is being established in close cooperation between the TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf at the Freiberg site. This was announced on December 17th, 2010 at a press conference in Berlin, Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan, Saxony's Prime Minister Stanislaw Tillich, the Rector of the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Prof. Bernd Meyer, and the Scientific Director of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Prof. Roland Sauerbrey.
10.08.2010 || Application to the Federal Ministry of Research
The Saxon state government decided on August 10, 2010 to participate in a bidding process at the Federal Ministry of Research. With the approval of the Saxon cabinet, the Free State is ready to invest 550,000 euros each in the development and operation of the new institute over the next five years. The city of Freiberg is willing to surrender a large property to the institution.
01.04.2010 || Proposal for a Resource Technology Institute
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf and the TU Bergakademie Freiberg have developed a concept that favors a research institution in Freiberg for the sustainable and secure supply of raw materials in Germany. The basis for this is the federal government's national raw materials strategy, which was launched in 2007. To this end, the federal government is planning “the establishment of a research institute for a sustainable and secure supply of raw materials with a location in the newly-formed federal German states” (current coalition agreement between CDU, CSU and FDP). A project team starts to present the concept in detail in the form of a proposal.