Inside the EU's Mission to Achieve Resource Sovereignty

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent body of the European Union, is leading an initiative to strengthen and secure Europe's supply chains for essential raw materials.
The EIT has an eye on the future and is asking for a substantial €4bn (US$4.1bn) in funding to curb Europe's heavy reliance on imported raw materials.
As the global demand for critical raw materials (CRMs) increases and supplies dwindle, supply chain security becomes more important than ever.
The sustainability angle? CRMs are crucial to the production of many of the technologies that will be essential to achieving net zero.
In essence, CRMs are the bedrock of Europe's aspirations.
- Every material sits on a spectrum of criticality, depending on the amount it is used in products as well as its scarcity or abundance.
- Which metals are classified as critical depends on who you ask. In the EU, there are 25 critical metals. They are: antimony, arsenic, aluminium, beryllium, bismuth, cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, hafnium, heavy rare earth elements (HREEs), light rare earth elements (LREEs), lithium, magnesium, manganese, nickel, niobium, platinum, scandium, silicon, strontium, tantalum, titanium, tungsten and vanadium.
- It's worth noting that some materials like copper and nickel are included as "strategic raw materials" even though they don't meet the typical criticality thresholds. The EU regularly updates this list to reflect changes in economic importance and supply risks associated with these materials.
Behind the importance of CRMs
So, what kind of applications do CRMs have?
They help to drive advancements in renewable energy, digital technologies and the aerospace and defence sectors, yet, currently, the EU imports 70% of them from outside its borders.
This heavy dependence exposes Europe to significant risks amid geopolitical conflicts or disruptions in global supply chains.
Similar anxieties exist in the global energy market. Very few countries are 100% self-reliant when it comes to energy; the same is true of critical raw materials.
As many countries seek to establish a degree of energy sovereignty, similar thoughts are beginning to stir in relation to CRMs.
In an effort to legislate for increased independence, the European Union introduced the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which lays down ambitious enhancement targets for 2030, including:
- Raising domestic raw material production to 10%
- Boosting processing capacity to 40%
- Aiming for a 25% recycling rate for pivotal materials
The CRMA, which clearly spells out the critical role of these materials in the EU economy, sets a clear route towards these goals.
However, reaching these aims will necessitate extensive investments and collaborative efforts across industries, institutions and member states.
A cause for optimism
Investing in the raw materials sector is far from just a necessity — it's a massive economic opportunity.
According to a report from the European Commission, this sector could potentially churn out €2tn (US$2.06) in value and support 32 million jobs by 2030.
This projection underscores the profound impact that strategic investments could have on bolstering Europe's long-term economic security and competitiveness.
EIT RawMaterials is steering this crucial €4bn proposal under FP10 which is devised to propel innovation, enhance sustainable mining practices and promote circular economy approaches such as efficient recycling and material reuse.
These initiatives strive not only to mitigate reliance on external suppliers but also to cultivate a robust, self-sustaining European supply chain.
This transformative vision goes beyond mere resource security. It is about fostering technological leadership and carving out new markets for sustainable practices, positioning Europe at the forefront of green and digital revolutions.
"The crucial role of raw materials in Europe’s future has never been more apparent," states Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director of the EIT's RawMaterials project.
The Draghi Report on European Competitiveness, which will form the foundation for the new European Commission’s flagship Competitiveness Compass, ranks raw materials as the second most critical issue for Europe, closely following energy security.
This policy paper outlines a pathway to build a resilient and sustainable raw materials supply chain — essential for Europe’s competitiveness and industrial future. Framework Programme 10 presents a unique opportunity to unlock large-scale private sector investment, accelerating innovation and industrialisation.
It is vital to build upon the investments made under the Horizon and Horizon Europe programmes over the past decade and the strong foundation of the raw materials knowledge and innovation community established as part of the EIT ecosystem.
How the EU plans to turn a problem into an opportunity
Realising such an ambitious vision calls for broad cooperation. With that in mind, EIT RawMaterials is actively engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders, including European institutions, private sector investors and academic entities.
Their comprehensive strategy revolves around attracting private capital, nurturing breakthrough technologies, and developing a skilled workforce prepared to tackle the sector's challenges.
Building on EIT’s legacy as Europe's largest innovation network,
The EIT is Europe's largest innovation network. It provides training for 800,000 individuals, supports over 10,000 start-ups with a total valuation of €72bn (US$74bn) and has attracted investments totalling €9.2bn (US$9.5bn).
This funding looks to build on this legacy and is set to further the progress in research, education and innovation within the raw materials sector.
Methods like environmentally friendly mining and cutting-edge recycling processes are pivotal to this development, aligning perfectly with the CRMA's objectives.
Through these strategic, collaborative efforts, Europe is poised not only to secure its critical raw material needs but also to underpin its industrial growth and leadership globally in sustainable practices and resilience.
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