By setting up a network of research institutes METNET offers their customers a total solution
Pilot-scale equipment is available for various applications at institutes around Europe, but all of them are niched to certain areas, which means that a single pilot-plant facility cannot offer the customer a complete testing opportunity. By contacting them, you can find an institute that can provide the specific competence and equipment you need. This will speed-up the process of getting your ideas and research into industrial use.
Bring ideas into industrial use
Production of metals is capital-intensive and unsuccessful investments in production facilities can lead to serious consequences for the company or investor. Consequently, access to pilot plants is necessary to bring ideas or concepts into industrial use. 
A pilot plant is a facility where process unit, equipment, integrated process and process parameters can be tested in a certain scale (a few hundred kgs to a couple of tonnes) with the intention to provide knowledge for a decision whether to invest or not.
Need for up-scaling and pilot facilities
In the Strategic Implementation Plan of the EIP Raw Materials, the need for up-scaling and pilot facilities has been recognised. The SIP also points out the need to create and consolidate poles of expertise as well as sharing of equipment and up-scaling knowledge. To meet these needs Metnet was created.
Metnet was one of the first approved Raw Materials Commitments (2014-16) by the European Innovation Partnership for Raw Materials and is also one of the first Network of Infrastructure in the EIT Raw Materials http://eitrawmaterials.eu/
Get more information here: http://prometia.eu/metnet/
Contact: Gro Eide, ELKEM - gro.eide@elkem.no
