REE-FLEX is an innovation project in rare-earth separation technology funded by EIT RawMaterials within KAVA 13 Upscaling call (project number 24677). It started on 1 September 2025 and will run until 31 August 2028. The consortium includes Solvomet, the research and innovation centre for circular hydrometallurgy at KU Leuven University (Belgium), and Carester, a leading company in the rare-earth sector based in France.
Europe’s e-mobility and renewable energy sectors rely heavily on rare-earth permanent magnets. In 2024, Europe imported approximately 23 kt of rare-earth permanent magnets, covering 98% of its total demand. This reliance was further intensified by export restrictions introduced in 2025 on key heavy rare earths, including dysprosium (Dy) and terbium (Tb), which are essential for high-performance permanent magnets. To reduce vulnerability, Europe urgently needs a strategically independent rare-earth permanent magnet production and recycling value chain.
REE-FLEX plays a crucial role in establishing this supply chain by advancing individual rare earth separation through solvent extraction, a decades-old technology now poised for modernisation. In REE-FLEX, Carester and KU Leuven are developing next-generation solvent extraction technology for both light and heavy rare earth separation via the nitrate route, integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and real-time analysis.
This innovation significantly reduces operational and capital expenditures (OPEX/CAPEX) and the ecological footprint of the solvent extraction process while enhancing feed flexibility. Based on the developed solvent extraction process, a modular solvent extraction pilot unit (skid) will be built, which will be used by Carester to support European and non-European customers in designing future rare earth separation plants.
On 3 December 2025, the European Commission adopted the RESourceEU Action Plan, a major step to secure the European Union’s access to critical raw materials such as rare earth elements,
Solvomet KU Leuven took part in the European Raw Materials Week in Brussels, held from 17 to 21 November 2025. A team from Solvomet and SIM2 KU Leuven, including Prof.
KU Leuven has recently launched a new EIT RawMaterials KAVA upscaling project: REE-FLEX. This initiative aims to reinforce the European Union’s ability to separate rare earth elements, which are essential
