On May 27 and 28, 2025, consortium partners of the EU project GREENE gathered for theirthirdin person project meeting at the University of Zaragoza to review progress and discuss next steps in the development of advanced Nd-Fe-B permanent magnets. These magnets play a critical role in powering high-tech products essential for a green energy future like e-motors and wind turbines. The hosting institute, the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza,is a key partner in the project responsible for the development of advanced characterization techniques, boasting state-of-the-art transmission electron microscopy facilities.
GREENE is a major European research initiative funded with €8 million over four years, uniting 15 partners from across Europe under the coordination of Slovenia’s Jožef Stefan Institute. The project aims to redesign Nd-Fe-B magnets at the microscopic single grain level to significantly reduce their use of rare earth elements. This innovative approach is expected to lower environmental impacts and reduce Europe’s dependence on critical raw materials vital for renewable energy technologies.
The Zaragoza meeting highlighted important technical milestones and facilitated discussions on the next steps toward creating more sustainable, high-performance magnets. GREENE partners were hosted by the Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), a joint research centre established by the Consejo Superior de InvestigacionesCientíficas (CSIC) and the Universidadde Zaragoza (UNIZAR).INMA is recognised as one of Spain’s leading materials science institutes and received the prestigious `Severo Ochoa´ National Excellence Grant in 2024.
