We aim to contribute to the European Green Deal, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Horizon Europe objectives through the development of a Geological Service for Europe, which focuses on the planet itself: the earth beneath our feet. The subsurface holds indispensable resources for European industries and opportunities to decarbonise our economy, but also requires careful management to preserve a healthy and safe living environment for Europe’s citizens. Structurally addressing the EU dimension in geological services is needed because the scale of many societally and economically relevant geological features exceeds that of individual countries. Addressing transnational and continental-scale problems requires innovation, standardisation, harmonisation as well as a shared vision. We aim to build the Geological Service for Europe based on Europe’s best practices and implement the Service with the backing of the Union. Existing geological surveys, the national custodians of geological information, have amassed huge legacies of data and information that are difficult to merge. This project will continue the harmonisation and standardisation effort initiated in earlier projects. We aim to create joint services that can support acceleration of the energy and climate transitions, as well as a larger critical mass of intra-European cooperation through convergence of our research agendas, as key steps to increase the amount and quality of results we are aiming for. A common thread in this project is innovation in ways in which subsurface information is conceptualised, organised, visualised, delivered and translated to the needs of a wide range of audiences, and the methodologies to achieve this. Building on the groundwork laid in the GeoERA program, we will scale up and out, not only scientifically, but also in involving national stakeholders in the network, in order to create support and eventually obtain a mandate for a European Service on a permanent basis.

The proposed HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-03 Twinning project aims to enhance research and technical capacity at the Geological Survey of Estonia (EGT) to accelerate Estonia transition’s from fossil fuel energy to green energy. The capacity building will be mainly focussed on developing state-of-the-art geological, geochemical and geophysical survey skills, data management workflows, and subsurface modelling capability for exploration and geological resource assessment of European critical raw materials and geothermal energy as a future potential green energy source for Estonia. The EGT geological capacity enhancement will be implemented via range of joint activities such as scientific conferences and exchanges as well as through delivery of specialised training programmes provided by three leading geological surveys in Europe – the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), the British Geological Survey (UKRI/BGS) and the Geological Survey of Denmark (GEUS). The project will contribute to the development of multidisciplinary research and innovation in geological studies in Estonia and enables EGT to enhance the scientific excellence of its personnel and to collaborate with experts from leading international research institutions. One of the project priorities is to support early-career researchers at EGT who will gain state-of-the-art experience in the geology fields crucial to Estonia.

DEXPLORE seeks to revolutionize mineral exploration in Europe by developing innovative approaches to counter declining ore deposit discovery rates, focusing on deep-seated deposits critical for the economy's decarbonization. The project emphasizes engaging the general public and stakeholders, combining innovation at various levels, and utilizing cutting-edge tools and technologies. Targeting essential materials across extensive geological terrains, DEXPLORE proposes a holistic innovation package, integrating UAV-assisted in-field mineral detection, advanced Earth Observation methods, and novel deep-land geophysics techniques to reach at least 600 m depth. The initiative outlines the development of updated ore models, improving exploration technologies, and providing a visualization platform. This platform will integrate geological, remote sensing, and geophysical data to enhance access to information about EU potential in critical raw materials, while increasing public awareness. DEXPLORE also aims to strengthen cooperation with strategic partner countries, establishing a robust Advisory Board and fostering collaboration with other EU initiatives for joint activities and result sharing. In summary, DEXPLORE represents a collaborative effort to advance mineral exploration, contribute to sustainable sourcing of critical raw materials, and ensure EU's open strategic autonomy.