BIORECOVER

What BIORECOVER does

BIORECOVER is an EU Horizon 2020 funded research and innovation project (Grant Agreement N. 821096) coordinated by CETIM (Centro Tecnológico), a Spanish technology centre headquartered in A Coruña, Spain. The project develops a sustainable biotechnological process for the selective biorecovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) — specifically Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Rare Earth Elements (REEs), and Magnesium — from both primary (mining) and secondary (waste) resources. Implemented over a 48-month period (2020-2024) with 14 consortium partners across 8 countries, BIORECOVER is structured as a 7-step workflow: characterization and conditioning of raw materials; pre-treatment using biocatalysts (fungi or indigenous bacteria); bioleaching to produce a metal-bearing bioleachate (targeting 90% extraction); post-treatment applying five novel eco-friendly recovery approaches (polymeric microcapsule adsorption, microalgae/bacterial/protein biosorption, and fungal-based recovery, targeting 95% selectivity); process integration via a Decision-Making Framework (DMF); end-user validation in brake pads, oxygen sensors, high-quality magnesium, salts, and catalyst sponges; and a sustainability stage incorporating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD).

BIORECOVER does not operate a commercial business model. Its sole disclosed funding is the Horizon 2020 grant, with no pricing, GTM motion, paying customers, or productized SaaS offering. Activities are executed by the consortium partners — academic institutions (University of Copenhagen, Linnaeus University, University of Coimbra, University of Cape Town/CBER, University of the Witwatersrand), industrial end-users (Johnson Matthey, Mytilineos, Técnicas Reunidas, FAE, Magna), and dissemination specialists (LGI Consulting, Enso Innovation). Dissemination occurs through open-access scientific publications on ZENODO, a dedicated YouTube channel, webinars, and the project website (biorecover.eu). The project is explicitly non-commercial by construction and frames itself as knowledge development for European CRM supply security and circular economy goals.

The firm's competitive position rests on a multi-institutional scientific consortium spanning the value chain, alignment with EU critical raw materials policy, and accumulated bioprocess know-how targeted at three strategic CRM categories. The material question for investors is whether and how the 7-step process and DMF will translate into a commercial vehicle post-2024 — through licensing, spinoff, or uptake by industrial partners — as no commercialization pathway, follow-on capital raise, or post-grant funding is disclosed in the available data.

Name

BIORECOVER

Legal name

BioRecover

Website

https://biorecover.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIORECOVER is an EU Horizon 2020 research consortium coordinated by CETIM in A Coruña, Spain, developing a 7-step biotechnological process to selectively recover Platinum Group Metals, Rare Earth Elements, and Magnesium from mining and waste resources.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Biorecovery Technology

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining (33141)

SIC

Secondary Smelting & Refining Of Nonferrous Metals (3341)

akta.pro primary industry

E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biorefinery Co-product Recovery, Purification & Separation (Downstream Processing Systems) (EUAAAIAN)

Keywords

• Critical raw materials recovery
• Biorecovery biotechnology
• Bioleaching processes
• Circular economy materials
• Sustainable mining solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

A Coruña

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

BIORECOVER develops a 7-step biotechnological process for the selective biorecovery of Critical Raw Materials (Platinum Group Metals, Rare Earth Elements, and Magnesium) from both primary and secondary resources. The process combines bioleaching, biosorption, and fungal-based recovery methods to deliver industrial-grade extraction with sustainability and circular economy benefits, targeting 90% extraction efficiency and 95% selectivity.

Product overview

BIORECOVER is a research and development project offering a single unified biotechnological process for the selective biorecovery of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs). The process consists of seven integrated stages: (1) Characterisation and Conditioning of Raw Materials, (2) Pre-treatment using biocatalysts (fungi/bacteria), (3) Bioleaching treatment to produce bioleachate, (4) Post-treatment using five eco-friendly recovery approaches (adsorption by polymeric microcapsules, biosorption by microalgae, bacterial cells, fungal-based recovery, and protein-based biosorption), (5) Process integration and optimization via a Decision-Making Framework (DMF), (6) Validation with end-users, and (7) Sustainability assessment including life cycle assessment and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) process development. The company targets Platinum Group Metals (PGMs), Rare Earth Elements (REEs), and Magnesium recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BIORECOVER 7-Step Biorecovery Process Integrated biotechnological process combining bioleaching, biosorption, fungal-based recovery, polymeric microcapsule adsorption, microalgae biosorption, bacterial biosorption, and protein biosorption for the selective recovery of Platinum Group Metals, Rare Earth Elements, and Magnesium from primary and secondary resources, targeting 90% extraction and 95% selectivity. Intended for industrial CRM end-users in mining, metallurgy, automotive, clean energy, electronics, healthcare, and aerospace sectors.
• Decision-Making Framework for Bio-based CRM Recovery Decision-support framework designed to help industrial stakeholders evaluate and adopt bio-based recovery routes for Critical Raw Materials, bridging R&D outputs with industry implementation decisions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% extraction rate of target CRMs from raw materials
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CEBER (Centre for Environmental Bioprocessing)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentre for Environmental Bioprocessing at University of Cape Town, South Africa. Scientific partner focused on analysing microorganisms in mining waste to determine optimal strains for bioleaching processes.
• Enso InnovationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner contributing innovation expertise to the BIORECOVER project, specializing in sustainable technology development.
• FAE (Fábrica de Aleaciones y Electrometalurgia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish industrial partner specializing in alloys and electrometallurgy, contributing industry perspective for end-user validation of recovered CRMs.
• Johnson MattheycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal specialty chemicals and sustainable technologies company, expert in platinum group metals and catalysts. Provides end-user validation context for recovered materials in brake pads, oxygen sensors, and catalyst applications.
• Linnaeus University (LNU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwedish university contributing academic research expertise in microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental sciences to the project.
• LGI ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSustainable innovation consultancy serving as both project partner and communication team lead. Handles project dissemination and stakeholder engagement activities.
• MagnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the BIORECOVER consortium contributing to project objectives, appears alongside other major industrial partners.
• CetimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish technology centre for research and development. Serves as project coordinator ([email protected]) and contributes technical expertise in materials processing.
• MytilineoscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreek industrial company contributing industrial perspective and potential end-user application insights for recovered critical raw materials.
• Tecnicas ReunidascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish engineering and infrastructure company providing technical expertise in process development and industrial application of recovered materials.
• University of Coimbra (UC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese university contributing academic research capabilities in biotechnology and environmental engineering to the project.
• University of Copenhagen (UCPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDanish university contributing scientific expertise in microbiology and environmental biotechnology research.
• University of the Witwatersrand (UWits)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSouth African university contributing research expertise in mining, metallurgy, and environmental sciences, supporting analysis of raw materials and microorganisms.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Umicore: Global materials technology and recycling group with major PGM, REE, and battery materials operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent in nonferrous metal refining and recycling that competes with bio-based recovery approaches.
• Johnson Matthey: Global specialty chemicals and PGM leader, BIORECOVER's industrial partner for end-user validation. Operates PGM refining and recycling at industrial scale and is investing in green refining, making it both a partner and incumbent competitor.
• Lynas Rare Earths: Largest non-Chinese REE miner and refiner, producing separated rare earth oxides for permanent magnets, electronics, and catalysts. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same REE downstream value chain.
• ERAMET: French mining and metallurgical group with active bioleaching pilots for nickel and cobalt extraction from low-grade ores. Comparable as a mining major investing in biotechnological extraction to complement conventional refining.
• Solvay: Belgian chemical company with rare earth separation and recycling activities for automotive catalysis and electronics applications. Comparable as a broad incumbent supplying CRMs into similar end-markets.

Direct peers

• BioSigma (Codelco subsidiary): Biomining company owned by Codelco that pioneered bioleaching of copper from ores using microorganisms. Directly comparable as a commercialized bioleaching operator that has moved from R&D to industrial deployment.
• BacTech Environmental: Bioleaching-focused company applying biotechnology to recover metals from mining waste and e-waste, with commercial bioleaching operations. Directly comparable as a pure-play biological metal recovery peer targeting similar secondary feedstocks.

Emerging players

• Phoenix Tailings: US-based startup producing critical metals including REEs and PGMs without toxic emissions or mining waste using proprietary green refining. Compares as an emerging green-metals alternative targeting the same CRM end-markets.
• REEtec: Norwegian company commercializing an efficient electrochemical separation process for rare earth elements from various feedstocks. Comparable as an emerging player targeting the same REE recovery opportunity.
• Nth Cycle: US-based metal recovery company using electrochemistry to recover critical and precious metals from e-waste and battery scrap. Comparable as an emerging clean-technology player in critical materials recovery from secondary feedstocks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@biorecoverproject6306
• Xx.com/biorecover
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biorecover-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIORECOVER