Extractive waste represents one of the largest industrial side streams and the largest single waste stream in Finland. The management and reuse of extractive waste play a key role in the environmental safety of mines, the social acceptability of mining operations and their economic profitability. The promotion of the circular economy in the extractive sector is also supported by the European Commission's Critical Raw Materials Act, according to which the recycling rate of strategic raw materials in the EU must be raised to at least 15% of total consumption by 2030, the current level being considerably lower. In addition, the EU should have the capacity to produce at least 40% of the EU's annual consumption of strategic raw materials. Both goals are ambitious, and there is a demand for new solutions. When it enters into force, the legislative proposal will also oblige Finland to take comprehensive measures. GTK Mintec's renewed research and innovation platform will be at the forefront of ensuring the availability of strategic raw materials. The aim of the Innovation platform for sustainable mineral economics (MINECOIN) project is to build research platforms, in connection with the Geological Survey of Finland's GTK Mintec pilot plant and research laboratories, for researching long-term field testing of extractive waste and developing its reuse. The new research platforms include the so-called smart tailings pond, the SMARTTEST test field, as well as the development of capabilities for large-scale research into drier tailings disposal methods. Drier extractive waste management methods are becoming available also outside very dry areas, because when used efficiently, they enable more environmentally safe management of extractive waste. The new research and innovation platform will enable the systematic development of extractive waste management methods far into the future. The project’s measures will contribute to the region’s just transition plan by diversifying and renewing business activities based on the green economy and by creating new job opportunities to compensate for the abandonment of peat production. The MINECOIN project is an essential part of GTK Mintec's extensive investment and development program launched in 2019. The goal of the GTK Mintec 2.0 development program is to create the world's most modern digital laboratory and pilot plant complex in Outokumpu, with a total investment value of more than 80 M€. Ongoing and decided investments amount to approximately 25 M€. The project portfolio consists of projects, closely linked to each other, funded from several different funding sources. As a result of this project, GTK Mintec will be equipped with a completely new research and innovation platform for the study of mineral-based side streams and tailings formed in the extractive industry. There is no similar platform anywhere else in the world. The investment in the MINECOIN project includes (1) the construction of a renewed instrumented tailings pond (smart tailings pond), (2) the construction of a SMARTTEST test field with research equipment and instruments for research on extractive waste disposal and coverage solutions, and (3) tailings dewatering equipment to be installed at the pilot plant for the pre-treatment of research material and the development of drier waste management methods. The measures included in the MINECOIN project will be implemented during the years 2023 – 2025. The ready test platforms and dewatering equipment will be taken into use during the project in GTK's self-financed and co-financed project activities (e.g. SMARTTEST project) and, after the project has ended, also in customer projects. This will ensure the long-term exploitation and continuity of the results of the MINECOIN project.