THE NEED: The crises that the world has faced in recent years, and especially the war in Ukraine, have accelerated the EU's goal towards a green transition. At the heart of the realization of the green transition are metallic raw materials. Alongside the processing of primary raw materials, it is also necesary to utilize the waste generated in mining production, such as waste rock, and to find solutions for the utilization of minerals stored in tailings ponds. The project seeks solutions to the need described above by developing a cluster and ecosystem built around the Outokumpu Mining Hub. Mining Hub consists of GTK Mintec's renewed laboratory and pilot plant complex and the related value network companies and Business Joensuu Oy. The cluster produces services for the mining industry to solve the key challenges it defines. THE OBJECTIVES: Main objective: A nationally and internationally known and respected cluster and ecosystem is built around the value network of Outokumpu Mining Hub, which produces solutions and services for the valorization and utilization of mining waste. Specified goals: WP 1 Creation and development of Outokumpu Mining Hub's cluster based on the value network: - Agreeing on the operating principles of the cluster. - Development of the cluster's service offering. - Getting new operators into the cluster. WP 2 Creation and development of Outokumpu Mining Hub's ecosystem: - The development of cooperation among the actors to be called/invited to the ecosystem. - Building cooperation with other ecosystems / clusters in North Karelia, especially with forest bio and circular economy and photonics. WP 3 Creating the cooperation structure of the mining provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland and strengthening the cooperation of the European S3P Mining Industry consortium: - Closer cooperation between the provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland, taking into account the strengths of the provinces. - Connecting the Outokumpu Mining Hub to the activities and networks of the European S3P Mining Industry consortium. WP 4 Communication and marketing: - Increasing the recognition of the Mining Hub and the cluster and ecosystem built around it on a national and international level. - Getting customers for the cluster's services. THE MEASURES: WP 1 Creation and development of Outokumpu Mining Hub's cluster based on the value network - Creating the rules for the cluster operation. - Modeling the cluster's service offering and packages by utilizing the results of a testcase carried out outside the project. - Finalizing the contents of the Mining Hub cluster's service offering and packages. - Continuation of operator mapping and search for new operators for the cluster. WP 2 Creation and development of Outokumpu Mining Hub's ecosystem: - Searching for potential actors in the ecosystem. - Agreeing on cooperation with the operators to be applied to the ecosystem. - Elucidation of cooperation and possible concretization nationwide with other ecosystems. - Linking the ecosystem to other ecosystems / clusters in North Karelia, e.g. forest bio- and circular economy and photonics. Agreeing on cooperation. WP 3 Creating the cooperation structure of the mining provinces of Eastern and Northern Finland and strengthening the cooperation of the European S3P Mining Industry consortium: - Participation in working groups, seminars and events promoting the planning and implementation of the cooperation structure. WP 4 Communication and marketing: - Forming the cluster's brand and producing marketing material. - Cluster and ecosystem marketing. - Marketing of the cluster's service offering and packages. - Customer acquisition for cluster services. THE RESULTS: After the project, Outokumpu Mining Hub will operate as a managed cluster, producing services for the mining industry at both the national and international level with the participating companies. A wider and more open ecosystem consisting of different actors has been built around the Hub. The Hub is part of the international Mining Hub network, creating new jobs, investments and new business in North Karelia for companies and operators operating in the cluster.