Smart Exploration Research Center

What Smart Exploration Research Center does

Smart Exploration Research Center (SERC) is a multidisciplinary Swedish research consortium focused on developing new technologies and scientific methods for exploration of critical raw materials (CRMs), including rare earth elements, nickel, cobalt, copper, lithium, phosphate, and other metals essential for the green energy transition. Established in 2024 and led by Uppsala University, SERC is funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) for a five-year period (2024-2029). The consortium brings together four universities (Uppsala, Lund, Stockholm, Gothenburg), three mining companies (Nordic Iron, Euro Battery Minerals, First Quantum Minerals), four technology and solution providers (Epiroc, Tyréns, Prevas BitSim, Amkvo), and one regional business developer (AB Samarkand2015), with additional supporters including Anglo American, BHP, and four Nordic geological surveys.

SERC operates through four technical hubs: Hub 1 (Green Sensing Technologies) focuses on robotic, slimhole, UAV-ROV, and digital platforms; Hub 2 (Mineral Systems) covers lithospheric endowment, geodynamics, and ore forming processes; Hub 3 (Data Analytics & Geomodels) addresses standardization, dynamic data, machine-learning solutions, and target ranking; and Hub 4 (Secondary Resources & Geometallurgy) covers mine tailing and extraction methods. Core technologies include broadband seismic acquisition, surface distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), integrated geophysical imaging methods, UAV-ROV and slimhole drilling platforms, and ML algorithms for hardrock seismic applications. Initial scoping works begin at TRL 1-2.

SERC is a non-profit academic research consortium, not a commercial product company. Revenue derives primarily from the SSF grant, supplemented by royalty fees from intellectual property managed through an IP & Commercialization Panel, and additional R&D and scoping works generated via thematic proposals with partners and supporting companies. Research outputs are distributed through consortium partnerships, open-access academic publications, and potential commercialization pathways. SERC does not sell products or services in the traditional sense; its customer base comprises mining companies, academic institutions, and government stakeholders seeking access to advanced exploration science and talent.

Name

Smart Exploration Research Center

Legal name

Smart Exploration Research Center

Website

https://smartexploration.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

2024

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smart Exploration Research Center (SERC) is a Swedish non-profit research consortium, established in 2024 and led by Uppsala University with SSF funding through 2029. It develops multidisciplinary technologies and methods for critical raw materials exploration, serving mining companies, academia, and government stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mining Exploration Research

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Support Activities for Mining (2131)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling) (IMAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Mine Development & Processing EPC (Critical Minerals) (IMAKAFAM)

Keywords

• Critical raw materials exploration
• Mineral exploration research
• Geophysical imaging technologies
• Mining research consortium
• Data analytics geomodels

Headquarters

HQ city

Uppsala

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Strategic Research Funding (SSF): Primary funding from Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF) from 2024 to 2029 for fundamental and innovative research with significant national and international implications
2. Royalty Fees: Revenue generation through royalty fees from research outputs and intellectual property developed within the consortium
3. Thematic R&D Projects: Additional R&D and scoping works generated via thematic proposals with partners and support companies, with common projects of interests across different geological domains inside Sweden and Nordic regions

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Smart Exploration Research Center (SERC) conducts multidisciplinary research on strategic and critical metals and minerals, developing new technologies and scientific methods for innovative critical raw materials (CRM) exploration. The Center operates through four technical hubs covering Green Sensing Technologies (robotics, slimhole drilling, UAV-ROV, digital platforms), Mineral Systems (lithospheric endowment, geodynamics, ore forming processes), Data Analytics & Geomodels (ML solutions, target ranking), and Secondary Resources & Geometallurgy (mine tailing, extraction methods). Research outputs are generated at TRL 1-2 initial scoping stage with the aim of advancing exploration solutions for Sweden and the Nordic region.

Product overview

Smart Exploration Research Center (SERC) is a multidisciplinary research consortium focused on exploration of critical raw materials, rather than a commercial product company. It is organized around four technical hubs (Green Sensing Technologies, Mineral Systems, Data Analytics & Geomodels, and Secondary Resources & Geometallurgy) and two work packages for coordination/management and dissemination/exploitation. The center develops technologies, methodologies, and scientific research for mineral exploration rather than selling commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hub 1 - Green Sensing Technologies Research Program Multidisciplinary research program covering robotic, slimhole, geochem/petrophysics, UAV-ROV, and digital platform technologies for innovative critical raw materials exploration, aimed at safer and more environmentally efficient field operations. Initial scoping works begin at TRL 1-2.
• Hub 2 - Mineral Systems Research Program Research program on lithospheric endowment, geodynamics, and ore forming processes for critical raw materials targeting iron-oxide apatite (IOA), carbonatites, Ni-rich magmatic, Li-rich pegmatites, and black shales across Sweden and the Nordic region.
• Hub 3 - Data Analytics & Geomodels Research Program Research program on standardization, dynamic data and models, machine learning solutions, target ranking and vectors for critical raw materials exploration across multiple commodity types.
• Hub 4 - Secondary Resources & Geometallurgy Research Program Research program on mine tailing and extraction methods for secondary resources and geometallurgy, supporting responsible and sustainable critical raw materials supply chains.

Quantifiable outcome

• Development of new exploration technologies and scientific methods for critical raw materials
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Uppsala UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Host institution and lead organization for SERC. Uppsala University provides the central coordination, faculty expertise in geophysics, geology, and earth sciences. The Center director and many Principal Investigators are based at Uppsala.
• Lund UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing expertise in engineering geology, geohydrology, and technical geology through Principal Investigators and Hub leaders.
• Stockholm UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing ore geology, mineral deposits research, and geophysics expertise through Principal Investigators and Hub leaders.
• Gothenburg UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner contributing geochemistry, petrology, and earth sciences expertise through researchers and postdocs.
• Nordic IroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining company partner providing exploration site at Blötberget for technology validation and ore genesis studies. Exploration permits cover multiple commodities including iron oxide apatite deposits.
• Euro Battery MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining company partner contributing exploration sites and permits for Ni-rich magmatic and other battery mineral exploration. Exploration permits cover REE, V, Mo, Sn, Li, P, Ni, Co, Cu.
• First Quantum MineralscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal mining company partner contributing expertise in mineral systems research and exploration activities. Steering board representation through Chief Geologist Tom F. Wesby.
• Epiroc ABcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and equipment provider contributing global technology and methods development expertise. Hub 1 co-leader Anders Persson serves as Global Technology & Methods Manager.
• Tyréns ABcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and solution provider contributing geotechnics and geophysics expertise. Chair of Steering board and Hub 3 leader Mats Svensson serves as Business Developer.
• Prevas BitSimcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology provider contributing business area management and digital solutions expertise. Jan Rydén serves as Business Unit Manager and Hub 1 member.
• Amkvo ABcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology and solution provider in the consortium contributing specialized expertise to the exploration research activities.
• AB Samarkand2015coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business developer contributing industry expertise. CEO Lars Lindblom serves as Steering board member and HSE panel member.
• ViridienminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHREE-level Friend of the Center providing technical capabilities and collaboration in the critical raw materials exploration network.
• Viscaria ABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHREE-level Friend of the Center contributing to the exploration network and technical capabilities for CRM exploration.
• Anglo AmericanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of the SSF funding application, representing global mining industry interest in CRM exploration research.
• BHPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of the SSF funding application, contributing global mining company perspective to research priorities.
• Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter and Honorary Associate Researchers Erik Jonsson (Senior Geologist) and Mehrdad Bastani (Senior Geophysicist) contribute national geological survey expertise.
• Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of SSF application providing Nordic geological survey collaboration and expertise.
• Geological Survey of Norway (NGU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of SSF application contributing Norwegian geological survey expertise to the research network.
• Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of SSF application providing Danish-Greenlandic geological survey expertise.
• Metal Earth (MERC), CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporter of SSF application. MERC Director Ross Sherlock serves on the Advisory Board providing international research center perspective.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Viridien (formerly CGG): Global geoscience heavyweight (formerly CGG) providing geophysical data acquisition, imaging, and interpretation services for mining and resources. Listed as a SERC 'Friend of the Center' (HREE level). Overlaps with SERC's geophysics hub and represents the commercial incumbent that SERC-validated technologies could license to or compete with.

Regional players

• Geological Survey of Finland (GTK): Finland's national geological survey, a SERC supporter providing Nordic geological survey expertise. Comparable in CRM exploration mandate and Nordic operating geography; provides mapping, mineral systems research, and policy support across Finland.
• Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU): Sweden's national geological survey, which is both a SERC supporter and a parallel public-sector exploration research provider. Overlaps with SERC on Swedish CRM exploration, geological mapping, and national policy support for raw materials supply.

Direct peers

• CSIRO Mineral Resources: Australia's national science agency research unit for mineral resources, conducting multidisciplinary exploration and mining research with industry and academic partners. Directly comparable to SERC in combining fundamental research, technology development, and industry partnerships for mineral exploration.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières): France's public geological survey with a strong mineral resources and critical raw materials mandate, conducting exploration research and supporting government CRM policy. Comparable as a publicly funded, multi-disciplinary exploration research organization operating across the EU.
• BGR (Bundesanstalt für Geowissenschaften und Rohstoffe): Germany's federal institute for geosciences and natural resources, advising government on critical raw materials and conducting mineral systems research. Functionally equivalent to SERC in mandate (national CRM exploration research with policy linkage) but at larger scale and longer history.
• CODES, University of Tasmania: Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in ore deposit science hosted at the University of Tasmania. Combines geology, geochemistry, and geophysics for mineral exploration research — closely aligned with SERC's Hub 2 (Mineral Systems) and Hub 3 (Data Analytics) focus.
• Metal Earth (MERC), Laurentian University: Canada's flagship mineral exploration research consortium led by Laurentian University, with a mandate to understand the genesis of base and precious metal deposits. SERC explicitly lists Metal Earth as a supporter, with MERC Director Ross Sherlock on SERC's Advisory Board — directly comparable research consortia in critical mineral systems.

Emerging players

• HiSeis Pty Ltd: Australian company specializing in seismic exploration methods for hardrock mineral exploration — directly overlapping with SERC's broadband seismic and surface DAS technologies demonstrated at Blötberget. Comparable emerging specialist in applied mineral exploration geophysics.
• EMerald Geomodelling: Swedish geomodelling firm and LREE-level Friend of SERC. Provides 3D geological modelling and data analytics services to mining clients — directly comparable to SERC's Hub 3 (Data Analytics & Geomodels) outputs and an indicator of potential commercialization pathways for SERC IP.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartexploration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Smart Exploration Research Center