Europe Rethinks Mining’s Digital Future on Land and Sea

EU-backed IIoT is transforming land mining, while deep-sea extraction remains paused amid regulatory uncertainty and debate

18 Feb 2026

At first glance Europe’s mining debate appears to be about where to dig next. In practice it is about how.

Across the continent, the most tangible progress is not in new pits or seabed ventures, but in software. IlluMINEation, a project funded by Horizon Europe, is building an Industrial Internet of Things platform for land-based and underground mines. Its aim is straightforward: link machinery, sensors and control rooms into a single digital system that improves safety, automation and environmental performance.

The promise is less glamorous than a new discovery, but more immediate. Real-time data flowing between equipment fleets and operators allows predictive maintenance, better energy management and closer environmental monitoring. For firms facing higher costs and stricter environmental standards, such digital oversight is becoming a necessity rather than a choice. The competitive edge lies not only in what is extracted, but in how transparently and efficiently it is done.

Offshore, matters are murkier. No commercial exploitation licences for deep-sea mining have yet been issued by the International Seabed Authority, whose mining code remains under negotiation. Within Europe, opinion is divided. Some member states and EU bodies favour moratoria or precautionary pauses; others see strategic value in seabed minerals. Environmental concerns about damage to marine ecosystems dominate the discussion.

Technology is advancing regardless. Firms such as Saab and Kongsberg Maritime are refining autonomous underwater vehicles for defence, offshore surveys and ocean research. These systems demonstrate European strength in subsea robotics and sensors. They are not approved seabed mining platforms.

The contrast is instructive. On land, digital integration is already reshaping conventional mining. Interoperable platforms and secure data systems are becoming central to accountability. At sea, extraction remains hypothetical, contingent on regulatory clarity and public acceptance.

If seabed mining proceeds, it will almost certainly require robust environmental monitoring and transparent data from the outset. For now, Europe’s mining future is being written in code onshore. Geology still matters. But in Europe, legitimacy and data may matter more.