Water Pilot
Raw Material Recovery from Mine Water
Extract value. Drive innovation. Validate your technology with real material streams from RAG.
The BRYCK Pilot is a 6-month venture client program enabling startups to test and scale solutions in industrial settings.
Mine water can carry a wide range of dissolved metals, minerals and salts, and its treatment leaves behind mineral-rich sludges. Together with RAG Aktiengesellschaft (RAG), which operates mine water management on an industrial scale, we are looking for startups ready to turn these streams into valuable raw materials.
The challenge focuses on two real-world application areas:
Challenge Liquid Mining – Recovering Valuable Materials from Mine Water
Can your technology selectively extract, concentrate, or recover valuable resources from complex water streams? We are interested in technologies targeting materials such as iron, manganese, magnesium, calcium, critical raw materials, salts, and other valuable minerals or compounds.
Relevant approaches may include selective separation processes, adsorption, membrane technologies, electrochemical processes, precipitation, crystallization, ion exchange, or other innovative recovery technologies.
Challenge Sludge – Turning Water Treatment Residues into Resources
Mine water treatment generates mineral-rich residual streams, including iron-containing and mineral-rich sludges. We are looking for solutions that can recover, separate, or upgrade valuable materials, reduce disposal volumes, or transform these residues into secondary raw materials and new products.
Programme Overview
Target group:
Startups and early-stage companies developing technologies to extract, concentrate or recover valuable materials from complex water streams or mineral-rich residues. Your technology does not have to come from mining: solutions developed for industrial wastewater, geothermal water, desalination, hydrometallurgy or chemical processes are just as welcome.
Cost & budget:
No participation fees. No equity is taken. Selected startups receive financial support with covered project costs of up to €30,000.
Milestones:
- November 29 | Application deadline
- Mid April | Kick-off (on-site)
- April to September | Execution phase (on-site & remote)
- Mid September | Closing session (on-site)
Your benefits at a glance
Real-world validation
Test your solution in an operational environment with real data, real constraints and clear performance expectations.
Direct industry collaboration
Work closely with RAG experts and BRYCK mentors and iterate your solution through structured feedback loops.
Market Traction
Generate validated results and build a credible industrial use case strengthening your market position.
Programme Outcome
Validated technology
Proven performance under real operational conditions
Industrial use case
A documented pilot with measurable results
Market positioning
Stronger credibility with customers, partners and investors
Follow-on collaboration
Potential for continued collaboration with RAG
Application requirements
Programme fit
You are a startup developing technologies in geology, hydrology, AI, or related fields for water inflow prediction, monitoring, and intelligent water management.
Technical readiness
You have a working prototype or advanced technical concept ready for validation in an operational setting.
Customised application deck
Submit a tailored application slide deck specifically addressing the Pilot Challenge, clearly outlining your solution and expected impact.
Venture mindset
You are willing to work in a structured venture client setup, define measurable success criteria and iterate collaboratively.
Commitment
You can actively engage throughout the 6-month pilot and participate in the on-site kickoff in Essen, Germany.
