Raw Materials Week 2023

Raw Materials Week is an annual event organised by the European Commission. It gathers a wide range of stakeholders discussing raw materials policies and initiatives, providing an overview of ongoing EU activities in this sector. Raw Materials Week 2023 centred around the European Critical Raw Materials Act and cover topics such as

• critical and strategic raw materials 
• strategic projects
• investment
• permitting
• exploration
• innovation
• circularity
• international partnerships etc

The 10th annual High-Level Conference of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on raw materials was co-organised with Eumicon on Wednesday 15 November and covered topics such as raw materials for energy transition, investment, strategic projects, and strategic partnerships.

European Commission events

Photos from Raw Materials Week 2023

13 November 2023

• EU Raw Materials R&I Day - Co-organised with European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA) and The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) 
  • Programme and presentations
• Idea Factory: Exploring Future Scenarios for Critical Raw Materials - Co-organised with IRTC project
• Promoting raw materials exploration in the EU
  • Programme and presentations

14 November 2023

• 6th EU Critical Raw Materials Event 'Challenges and solutions in supply risk monitoring and mitigation' - co-organised with SCRREEN and IRTC projects
  • Programme and presentations
• EU-Africa event - Event co-organised with the Directorate-General for International Partnerships (INTPA) and Africa MaVal project
  • Programme and presentations
• EU – Kazakhstan Business Forum
  • Programme and presentations
• Workshop on the Strategic R&I Agenda for the Co-funded Partnership Raw materials for Europe Co-organised with ERA-MIN3
  • Programme and presentations

15 November 2023

• 10th annual High-Level Conference of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials 'Critical Raw Materials Act – Ready to go' - Co-organised with EUMICON
  • Programme and presentations
  • Video of the 10th annual High-Level Conference

16 November 2023

• Sustainable raw materials value chains in the EU CRM Act
  • Programme and presentations
• Analysis In Support of Strategic Value Chains - Co-organised with the Joint Research Centre (JRC)
  • Programme and presentations
• Developing permanent magnets value chain - Co-organised with SUSMAGPRO project, ERMA and REIA
  • Programme and presentations
• 6th Event on the United Nations Framework Classification for Resources and the United Nations Resource Management - Co-organised with UNECE, GSEU and FutuRaM projects
  • Programme and presentations

Satellite Events

Other stakeholders were invited to organise satellite events. External stakeholders organised the following satellite event during Raw Materials Week 2023.

13 November

• Missing links in the EU CRMA legislation: Nature, Indigenous Peoples rights, and Future Generations
• The weak link in ESG - addressing corruption in mineral supply chains
• Raw Material Observatories in 2023: important developments and 2024 outlook
• Launch of Global Map on Rare Earth Elements: impacts and conflicts - The Green and Digital Transition’s challenges

14 November 

• Striking a balance between economic, ecological and social interests - How could a modern EU raw materials policy be designed?
• The future of mining in Europe – Minimising the environmental footprint through breakthrough technological innovations
• EU Mining Regional Innovation Ecosystems to Support the Green Transition and Secure Mineral Raw Materials Supply to the EU Industry and Society - OECD and Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership on Mining
• LOCOMOTION: Modelling for a Different Raw Materials Approach - Copper Supply: Scenarios and Solutions
• CRMR State of Play: Putting Human Rights and the Environment at the Heart of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Strategy
• Shaping the Future: pathways to net-zero aluminium Made in Europe
• Made in Europe raw materials: challenges and sustainable advancements. The AlSiCal EU project case
• Mine The Gap Final event and Future Eurocluster on raw materials: Boosting SMEs and technology towards sustainable mining
• Responsible Sourcing and Traceability of CRM
• Strategic Partnerships and Raw Materials: Securing Just and Sustainable Partnerships in the Context of a Growing CRM Demand
• The environmental and human impacts of raw material extraction: Lithium in the High Andes, Argentina

16 November 

• Blockchain and a New Era for the Value Chain from Cobalt in DRC to Electric Batteries Plants
• The Building Blocks for Europe’s Future
• The battery passport as an enabler for sustainable and transparent supply chains
• 6th European Gypsum Recyclers Forum
• Materials for Batteries Cluster Annual Meeting
• Mining in Europe - Understanding the drivers of social acceptance

17 November 

• Automotive raw material circularity: challenges and opportunities

12 December 

• How can microorganisms contribute to a responsible mining future? A discussion about the environmental and social impacts of bioleaching