Research and development progresses of mineral resource geophysical exploration technology funded by European Union and its implications for China

Since 2014, the European Union (EU) has funded nine geophysical exploration technology research and development (R&D) projects under the support from Horizon 2020 and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), which has significant reference value for China's mineral resource geophysical exploration technology development. A systematic review of these projects reveals that the main R&D direction of Horizon 2020 and EIT is geophysical technologies with greater penetration depth, higher resolution and accuracy, environmental friendliness, and cost-effectiveness, including seism, airborne magnetic surveys, airborne electromagnetic surveys, airborne hyperspectral imaging, and drilling. The EU's R&D progress offers four key insights for the advancement of geophysical exploration technologies in China. ① Passive-source seismic methods and electrodynamic seismic generator are environmentally friendly technologies, and piezoelectric seismometers prove effective for exploring quartz deposits. ② Drone-based airborne geophysical exploration system is a critical R&D direction. ③ Logging-while-drilling may become one of the key R&D priorities in solid mineral exploration.④ Utilization of new partnership of government, institutions and enterprise could facilitate the commercialization and innovation of related technologies. This research not only identifies the EU's latest geophysical technology trends but also could provide strategic implications for China's R&D planning and project deployment in related fields.