
At the MiningForum 2026 in Berlin, Germany, the Association for Mining, Geology and the Environment (VBGU) and the Society of Metallurgists and Miners (GDMB) signed a cooperation agreement. With this step, both organisations are deepening their collaboration and sending a strong signal in favour of innovation, knowledge transfer and the sustainable development of their respective fields.
The VBGU and GDMB are united by the common goal of actively promoting exchange between academia, industry and professional practice. The cooperation focuses on research, development, and education and training in the fields of raw materials, geophysics, geotechnics, hydrogeology, recycling and environmental technology.
The challenges posed by the energy transition, securing raw materials, climate protection and the circular economy increasingly call for interdisciplinary solutions and strong networks. Against this backdrop, both associations aim to harness synergies and develop joint activities that create sustainable added value for the professional community.
The collaboration thus creates a platform for intensive professional exchange, the initiation of joint projects and the development of new formats for knowledge transfer, the promotion of young talent and professional qualification. The aim is to accelerate innovation, make specialist knowledge more widely available and further enhance the appeal of the participating sectors for future generations.
Members of both associations will benefit in particular from this collaboration. They will gain access to expanded networks, additional specialist events and new opportunities for collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.
By signing the agreement at the MiningForum 2026, the VBGU and the GDMB are laying the foundations for a long-term partnership that will provide impetus for the future of the raw materials, geosciences and environmental sciences, and actively support the joint shaping of sustainable and innovative development.
In addition to the GDMB, the VBGU already cooperates with the Industry Association for Hard Coal and Post-Mining (bsn), the Association for Technical Safety and Environmental Protection (TSU e.V.), the Professional Association of German Geoscientists (BDG) and the BVÖ – Austrian Mining Association. (VBGU/MRG)