TMK Launches Partnership with the World’s No.1 University in Hydrometallurgy

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s forward-looking initiative to establish a “education–science–industry” chain and build partnerships with the world’s top 50 universities has reached a new milestone today.

In Brussels, representatives of TMK held a meeting with the leadership of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven) — the world’s leading scientific and research center in hydrometallurgy.

During the meeting, both parties discussed the establishment of cooperation in the fields of sustainable metallurgy and hydrometallurgical technologies for critical minerals.

As part of this collaboration, an Industrial PhD program will be launched jointly by TMK and KU Leuven, enabling Uzbek researchers to undertake academic and practical training at KU Leuven and its world-renowned Solvomet laboratories.

During the visit, the TMK delegation was introduced to Solvomet Group’s scientific infrastructure and laboratories, recognized as the world’s top research center in green hydrometallurgy under KU Leuven.

Here, the world’s most advanced processes for critical metal separation and green technology development are being tested and implemented.

Today, Solvomet Group maintains direct scientific partnerships with global industry giants such as Rio Tinto, Aurubis, Shell, and Toyota, as well as with major European organizations including the European Commission, EIT RawMaterials, and ERMA.

The head of Solvomet Group, Professor Koen Binnemans, is one of the most widely cited scientists globally in the field of hydrometallurgy.

During the meeting, Professor Peter Tom Jones, Director of SIM² KU Leuven, emphasized that this collaboration would serve as a model for sustainable resource cooperation between Europe and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, Professor Koen Binnemans, head of Solvomet Group and a globally recognized expert in hydrometallurgical technologies, expressed readiness to leverage the Group’s scientific potential to support innovative hydrometallurgical projects in Uzbekistan.

For reference, KU Leuven, founded in 1425, currently ranks 27th among the world’s top 50 universities and holds the No.1 position globally in hydrometallurgy. The university maintains active scientific cooperation with over 700 industrial and academic partners worldwide.