Expert network on Critical raw materials (CSA)

Expected Outcome:

• Strengthening the expert capacity in the EU in a wide range of raw materials along the whole value chain;

• Better informed and more effective decision-making by the EU and National policy makers and the producers and users of raw materials regarding the supply and demand of raw materials and the associated environmental and social aspects;

• Improved EU official statistics and building the EU knowledge base of primary and secondary raw materials.

Scope:

Actions should strengthen an EU expert network and community covering all raw materials screened in the critical raw materials assessment of 2027. Flexibility in screening additional raw materials will be an added value.

The consortium should build the EU expert community covering each screened raw material with expertise on primary and secondary resources; production, including exploration, mining, processing, recycling and refining; substitution of critical raw materials; raw materials markets; future demand and supply; supply risk management and stress tests; materials flows; raw materials standardisation; environmental footprint, socio-economic analysis, and strategic value chains and end-use sectors, including batteries, e-mobility, renewable energy, electronics, security and aerospace.

The actions should contribute to the EU policy making related to critical raw materials, in particular to the implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act, including the development of the new list of critical raw materials and their specific applications or sectors. The action is expected to coordinate with the Commission regarding the events and reflect the EU policy planning.

The actions should also improve data and knowledge on all screened raw materials and the analysis of the future supply and demand of raw materials, their environmental footprint, technology gaps and innovation potential along the raw materials value chains.

The action should update the data and information fact sheets from the previous criticality exercise for all screened raw materials, and ensure their quality by relevant raw material experts. Factsheets are to be finalised by the end of 2029, and could be fine-tuned before publication expected in 2030.

The action is expected to organise two expert validation workshops in 2029 to support the EU criticality assessment, and validate draft factsheets for all screened materials. In coordination with the Commission, organise in-depth workshops on several strategic metals for renewable energy, e-mobility and aero-space and security / dual use, with recognised commodity experts from industry and other organisations.

The data and information produced by the action shall be shared with the Commission at free of charge basis.

The action should envisage clustering activities with other relevant selected projects for cross-projects co-operation, consultations and joint activities on cross-cutting issues and share of results as well as participating in joint meetings and communication events. To this end proposals should foresee a dedicated work package and/or task, and earmark the appropriate resources accordingly.