Research institutes, recyclers, a wafer manufacturer, an isotope laboratory and a policy NGO — assembled so the chain does not break between stages.
Select a partner to read who they are and what they contribute to WISER.
CSEM is a Swiss non-profit technology innovation centre bridging research and industry. With more than 600 employees across six sites, it is internationally recognised for its expertise in precision manufacturing, digitalisation, and sustainable energy. Through WISER, CSEM aims to contribute to the domestic sourcing and processing of materials for the semiconductor industry while expanding its expertise beyond mainstream photovoltaics.
Within WISER, CSEM focuses on developing surface passivation and characterisation methods for ultra-high-quality electronic-grade wafers, as well as authentication and traceability methods for the semiconductor industry. It will also contribute its expertise in environmental and social life cycle assessment. As project coordinator, CSEM coordinates the project and leads activities in these areas.
Kore Metals is a Luxembourg-based European metals company developing a low-carbon route for producing high-purity silicon. Spun out from Maana Electric in 2025 and backed by InnoEnergy, the company builds on nearly a decade of electrochemical innovation to develop a more efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional silicon production. Its technology aims to strengthen Europe's domestic silicon supply and reduce dependence on imported materials.
Within WISER, Kore Metals will contribute to the validation of technologies for producing high-purity silicon from secondary raw materials, including recycled glass. It will support the development of silicon metal with a purity of 3–4N and contribute to the economic assessment of the complete technology chain. Through WISER, Kore Metals will further validate its technology for applications in the semiconductor industry and contribute to strengthening Europe's silicon production capacity.
Université de Sherbrooke conducts research in mineral and chemical processing within its Department of Chemical and Biotechnological Engineering. Through its Research Chair on Asbestos Mining Residues Valorization, the university develops solutions for recovering valuable resources from mining residues and aims to contribute to more secure and sustainable critical material supply chains between Canada and Europe.
Within WISER, Université de Sherbrooke focuses on producing high-purity silica from asbestos mining waste, targeting purity levels above 99 %. Its researchers will contribute their expertise to the development of silica precursors and lead that work, supporting the project's efforts to transform mining residues into valuable secondary raw materials.
Comet Group is an established player in the recycling of ferrous and non-ferrous metals and plastics, processing around 1.2 million tonnes of end-of-life vehicles, WEEE and PV panels each year. Combining advanced mechanical recycling with AI, sensors, robotics, electroseparation and hydrometallurgy, Comet aims to further improve its PV recycling technologies and strengthen its position in the market.
Within WISER, Comet focuses on sourcing end-of-life PV panels and developing processes to recover and valorise silicon, silver and antimony. In collaboration with NTNU, it will co-develop hydrometallurgical processes for extracting silver from silicon and antimony from glass, and validate these solutions at pilot scale. Comet leads the secondary raw materials work and contributes to the exploitation of project results.
The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) is Norway's leading university for technological and scientific research and education, with strong expertise in materials science, metallurgy and sustainable industrial processes. Its research activities include the development of technologies and value chains for more resource-efficient and low-carbon metal production, making WISER closely aligned with its research priorities.
Within WISER, NTNU will contribute to the refining of photovoltaic glass and silicon wafers and the recovery of valuable materials. It will also work on producing metallurgical-grade silicon from refined materials and alternative secondary raw materials, including asbestos waste and geothermal resources, using an aluminothermic reduction process.
Recma is a cooperative based in Seraing, Wallonia, with 30 years of experience in the social and circular economy. With around 50 employees, Recma combines professional integration with practical recycling activities through its Clean and Sun departments. The organisation aims to contribute to European sovereignty in critical raw material recovery while supporting the development of resilient circular industries and jobs across Europe.
Within WISER, Recma contributes by improving the efficiency, safety and ergonomics of PV panel dismantling. It will investigate solutions including automatic panel size detection, assisted carrying systems and automated aluminium collection. Recma will also contribute to assessing projected volumes of semiconductor material sources and data from partner countries, supporting the development of a more resilient European recovery chain.
Topsil is a Denmark-based manufacturer of float-zone silicon, producing ultra-pure, high-quality silicon products for power semiconductor applications. As part of GlobalWafers, one of the world's leading silicon wafer manufacturers, Topsil brings expertise in producing and processing silicon materials for demanding semiconductor applications. Supply chain security and sustainability are central to its strategy.
Within WISER, Topsil will investigate new feedstock sources suitable for power semiconductor applications, supporting the development of more secure and sustainable silicon supply chains. It will contribute to the wafering of silicon ingots, support the characterisation of silicon ingots and wafers, and evaluate the resulting materials for use in the power semiconductor market.
IKZ Berlin is a research and innovation institute and a member of the Leibniz Association. Worldwide renowned for bulk crystal growth, it develops and processes advanced materials, with an R&D spectrum spanning fundamental research through to pre-industrial development. Its expertise covers equipment engineering, crystal growth, wafering and material characterisation, with a focus on developing high-quality, high-purity semiconductor materials and supporting their long-term sustainability.
Within WISER, IKZ aims to demonstrate the conversion of recycled materials into high-quality crystals and contribute to a more stable and sustainable supply of raw materials for crystal growth. It will work on Czochralski crystal growth and wafering of silicon and InSb, while developing approaches to reduce oxygen and carbon impurities using magnetic fields. IKZ will also support material characterisation and qualification, as well as the transfer and dissemination of project results.
PowerShift is a Berlin-based NGO founded in 2010, working on raw materials, trade and energy issues. With expertise in European raw materials policies and supply chains, including the solar industry, PowerShift advocates for a transition towards more sustainable and responsible raw material use. WISER offers an opportunity to deepen its understanding of the technical aspects of the circular economy and support efforts to reduce Europe's demand for primary raw materials.
Within WISER, PowerShift focuses on strengthening public and political awareness of the need for an ambitious circular economy and supporting its integration into policy processes. It will conduct stakeholder and policy analyses, map relevant political processes and access points, organise events bringing together key stakeholders, and contribute to public awareness activities. Through these activities, PowerShift aims to help translate project results into broader policy and societal impact.
AMIRES is a project management and consultancy organisation based in Prague, Czechia, supporting research, development and innovation projects including Horizon Europe initiatives. Its expertise combines coordination of complex R&D projects with communication, dissemination and stakeholder engagement, supporting collaboration between organisations across Europe.
Within WISER, AMIRES contributes to project management and communication, helping ensure effective coordination and collaboration across the consortium. It will support internal and external communication, promote project results and contribute to dissemination activities, helping WISER deliver tangible results and reach relevant stakeholders.
The National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) is a leading Greek university specialising in engineering and applied sciences. Through its Laboratory of Metallurgy and the Technologies for Sustainable Metallurgy (TeSMet) research group, NTUA develops technologies for the processing of primary and secondary raw materials, with expertise in hydrometallurgy, purification, material characterisation and waste valorisation.
Within WISER, NTUA focuses on the characterisation and purification of geothermal silica to develop high-purity feedstocks for downstream metallurgical processing. It will investigate impurity behaviour and optimise purification processes for precipitated silica, contributing to the development of suitable feedstock for metallurgical-grade silicon production and supporting the integration of geothermal resources into the WISER value chain.
Advanced Isotopic Analysis (AiA) is a French testing and research company based in Pau, specialising in non-traditional isotope analysis and elemental analysis for scientific traceability and origin verification. Founded in 2017 from expertise developed through CNRS and the University of Pau, AiA has developed specialised analytical methods for materials and extractive resources, including critical minerals. Since November 2025, AiA has been part of Oritain's international laboratory network.
Within WISER, AiA contributes to the work on sustainability, supply chain resilience and traceability. It will apply isotopic analysis to key samples across the value chain, from raw to processed materials, supporting traceability and anti-counterfeiting. The project will also allow AiA to test its methodology in recycling processes and strengthen its understanding of the materials, technologies and value chains developed by the consortium.
A recycler alone cannot certify a wafer. A crystal grower alone cannot source end-of-life panels. WISER is assembled so that material never has to leave the project to reach the next step: the organisation that dismantles the panel, the one that extracts the metal, the one that purifies it, the one that grows the crystal and the one that qualifies the wafer are all inside the same agreement.
Two partners sit outside that material path on purpose. Advanced Isotopic Analysis measures provenance independently of the people producing the material. PowerShift works on whether the policy environment will let the result compete at all.
If you supply secondary material, process it, or buy the wafer at the end, the coordinator would like to hear from you.