Research and Education Mine Reiche Zeche in Freiberg, Germany

The Reiche Zeche mine is a unique location for research and education. Since 1919, the former ore mine is used for educating and training of miners, engineers and mine surveyors by the TU Bergakademie Freiberg. Drifts and tunnels of the mine stretch over several kilometres at depths down to 230 m. Today, the Reiche Zeche mine plays a major role in mining research and related activities including various research institutes and industrial partners. Several underground test facilities and laboratories are in use and important in university education. A variety of local (15 institutes of TU Bergakademie Freiberg) and external partners (30 from 26 countries) are actively shaping research and education in the mine. Within the framework of the Baltic Sea Underground Innovation Network (BSUIN http://bsuin.eu), we aim at forming an efficient platform for future, innovative research and business activities in underground laboratories.