GeoZS, as Slovenian partner, participated in the organisation and execution of the Critical Materials Conference, which took place in the framework of the European project "International Round Table on Materials Criticality (IRTC)". This year, we hosted the event in Ljubljana, where 180 representatives of companies, researchers and decision makers from several countries from all over the world gathered.

The three-day programme includes scientific sessions, panel discussions, interactive courses and workshops. The main themes included mining, recycling, geopolitical dimensions and technological innovation, with a particular focus on industry and the economy. Best practices and companies were showcased and recent regulatory changes and their impacts were discussed. Special attention was also given to young talents who presented their work in a poster exhibition and short presentations.

The first day of the conference started with four thematic workshops, during which we, as EIT RawMaterials RIS Hub Adria A workshop on opportunities for cooperation and funding for the development of innovative projects by EIT RawMaterials. Participants also had the opportunity to visit and get to know the GeoZS and the Institute for Construction of Slovenia. The afternoon workshops were followed by a panel discussion on "Industry, politics and civil society - are there common policy points in resource management and supply?". A recording of the debate is available at RIS Hub Adria YouTube channel. The panel brought together representatives from a wide range of stakeholders. Dr. Marko Maver from the Slovenian Ministry of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning participated in the panel, and other panellists included representatives from the International Energy Agency, the Responsible Mining Initiative, the mining industry, industry, indigenous peoples, and a promoter of a just energy transition. The lively debate highlighted various aspects of the importance of critical raw materials and their extraction, and in particular good practices on the part of decision-makers, users and indigenous peoples. The importance of dialogue and transparency in the whole process from research to extraction and processing for sustainable coexistence was underlined.

Read more about the conference here.