This paper develops a novel text-based approach to identify CRM-saving innovation using patent data and studies how mineral price signals shape the direction of technological change. Using patent data from 1978–2020, we distinguish technologies that rely on CRMs from those that explicitly aim...

Gasspeicher sind ein zentraler Baustein für eine sichere Energieversorgung und damit für eine funktionierende Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Derzeit bietet der Markt jedoch kaum Anreize, die Gasspeicher zu nutzen oder in deren Erhalt zu investieren. Im Gegenteil: Seit November letzten Jahres...

Securing access to critical raw materials has become a top priority for governments worldwide, particularly in light of geopolitical disruptions and increasing demand for materials essential to the green transition and advanced technologies. Ukraine holds substantial reserves of key raw...

Gasspeicher sind ein zentraler Baustein für eine sichere Energieversorgung und damit für eine funktionierende Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Derzeit bietet der Markt jedoch kaum Anreize, die Gasspeicher zu nutzen oder in deren Erhalt zu investieren. Im Gegenteil: Seit November 2024 beobachten...

Gegenstand der Studie ist die Untersuchung der langfristigen Nachfrage nach mineralischen Primär- und Sekundärrohstoffen im Bereich Steine und Erden unter Zugrundelegung verschiedener Szenarien in Hinblick auf die gesamtwirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Auf der Grundlage einer Projektion des BIP,...

As part of its efforts to secure access to critical raw materials (CRMs), the EU has concluded Strategic Partnerships on Raw Materials with 14 non-EU countries. These partnerships aim to diversify supply sources and to deepen ties with resource-rich countries, thereby strengthening the...

The European Union faces an unprecedented dilemma in securing its mineral raw materials supply while protecting the environment. The 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act of the European Commission represents a turning point, marking a fundamental shift from market-oriented approaches towards...

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical for Europe's economic competitiveness, green transition, and national security. Yet the EU remains heavily dependent on China for their supply, particularly in refining and processing. This paper examines Europe's vulnerability to supply disruptions and...

While the concept of energy security - also known as security of supply - entered mainstream policy discourse in the 1970s following the two oil crises, its foundations were laid long before the 20th century. For millennia, as societies derived multiple utilities from natural resources and...

As part of its efforts to secure access to critical raw materials (CRMs), the EU has concluded Strategic Partnerships on Raw Materials with 14 non-EU countries. These partnerships aim to diversify supply sources and to deepen ties with resource-rich countries, thereby strengthening the...

China's recent restrictions on rare earth (RE) metal exports have heightened U.S. concerns over supply security. A key question is whether non-Chinese producers can substitute for China and reduce dependence. This paper examines that issue by estimating the cross-price elasticity of U.S. RE...

This study investigates the nonlinear, regime-dependent, and frequency-specific interdependencies between rare earth element (REE) markets and key global critical sectors, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean energy, defense, and advanced manufacturing, under varying levels...

Access to critical raw materials (CRMs) is increasingly being shaped by geopolitical dynamics, fuelling a global competition for supply security. This paper applies the gravity model of trade to examine how OECD countries leverage Aid for Trade (AfT), Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs), and...

A secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials is at the core of the EU's competitiveness, including as part of our green and digital transitions. It is also vital for increased EU economic security and defence capabilities. While the European Critical Raw Materials Act aims at...

The traceability of critical raw materials along the supply chain is pivotal in meeting wider public demands for corporate sustainability and complying with relevant regulations from the European Union that contain requirements for responsible sourcing and the transparency of supply chains. This...

The traceability of critical raw materials along the supply chain is pivotal in meeting wider public demands for corporate sustainability and complying with relevant regulations from the European Union that contain requirements for responsible sourcing and the transparency of supply chains. This...

A secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials is at the core of the EU's competitiveness, including as part of our green and digital transitions. It is also vital for increased EU economic security and defence capabilities. While the European Critical Raw Materials Act aims at...

Gasspeicher sind ein zentraler Baustein für eine sichere Energieversorgung und damit für eine funktionierende Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Derzeit bietet der Markt jedoch kaum Anreize, die Gasspeicher zu nutzen oder in deren Erhalt zu investieren. Im Gegenteil: Seit November 2024 beobachten...

In summer 2023, the EU entered a strategic raw materials partnership with Chile. While the EU is seeking to gain better access to critical raw materials such as lithium and copper, Chile is aiming to diversify its raw materials sector and boost local value creation. Despite progress having been...

Gegenstand der Studie ist die Untersuchung der langfristigen Nachfrage nach mineralischen Primär- und Sekundärrohstoffen im Bereich Steine und Erden unter Zugrundelegung verschiedener Szenarien in Hinblick auf die gesamtwirtschaftliche Entwicklung. Auf der Grundlage einer Projektion des BIP,...

Global demand for specific mineral raw materials is increasing, driven largely by the energy and digital transition. Although the EU is making efforts to boost domestic supply, it will remain highly dependent on imports of those minerals from third countries to achieve strategic autonomy in...

The transition to e-mobility has accelerated the demand for and has heightened the EU's dependency on critical raw materials such as rare earths, copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, increasing the urgency for higher circularity in end-of-life vehicles. Starting from a previous report, this...

The transition to e-mobility has accelerated the demand for and has heightened the EU's dependency on critical raw materials such as rare earths, copper, lithium, cobalt, and nickel, increasing the urgency for higher circularity in end-of-life vehicles. Starting from a previous report, this...

Cobalt (Co) is an essential metal used in renewable energy technologies, electro-mobility, aerospace and defence, due to its high-temperature stability and magnetic properties. It plays a crucial role in improving energy density in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and grid storage....

Copper (Cu) is used in all electrical and electronic applications, including renewable energy technologies, power grids, electric vehicles, electronic devices, aircrafts and defence technologies. Copper is mined both underground and open-pit and is widely recycled.

Gallium's (Ga) unique semiconducting properties enable highly efficient power management chips. Gallium arsenide is used for power amplifiers in devices, in telecommunications such as 5G, satellite communication and radar systems. Gallium is also used in thin-film solar panels and LEDs. Gallium...

Boron (B) is used in permanent neodymium magnets, in high-performance glass for e.g. photovoltaic panels, and chip production. Boron fibres and composites are used in aerospace structures, armour and ballistic-resistant materials. Boron can be extracted from open-pit mines and from brines.

Aluminium (Al) is widely used in society. Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for aircraft frames, satellites, and electric vehicle bodies, where reducing mass improves fuel efficiency and performance. It is also used in the power transmission grid. Aluminium's primary ore is...

Gallium's (Ga) unique semiconducting properties enable highly efficient power management chips. Gallium arsenide is used for power amplifiers in devices, in telecommunications such as 5G, satellite communication and radar systems. Gallium is also used in thin-film solar panels and LEDs. Gallium...

Aluminium (Al) is widely used in society. Its high strength-to-weight ratio makes it ideal for aircraft frames, satellites, and electric vehicle bodies, where reducing mass improves fuel efficiency and performance. It is also used in the power transmission grid. Aluminium's primary ore is...

Tungsten (W) is one of the foremost defence materials, widely used in high-strength applications, and ammunition. It is suitable as well for high-temperature applications such as supersonic and hypersonic vehicles. Tungsten's density makes it ideal for armour-piercing ammunition and...

Boron (B) is used in permanent neodymium magnets, in high-performance glass for e.g. photovoltaic panels, and chip production. Boron fibres and composites are used in aerospace structures, armour and ballistic-resistant materials. Boron can be extracted from open-pit mines and from brines.

Lithium (Li) is particularly important for battery technology (Li-Ion batteries) for electro-mobility and energy storage, due to its electrochemical properties. Most lithium is supplied from primary resources like hard rock mining and brine extraction. The recovery from end-of-life batteries...

Graphite (C) is widely used in strategic technologies, particularly as the primary anode material in lithium-ion batteries for electromobility and energy storage. Most graphite is supplied from by natural graphite mining and synthetic production, but recycling from spent batteries and industrial...

Tungsten (W) is one of the foremost defence materials, widely used in high-strength applications, and ammunition. It is suitable as well for high-temperature applications such as supersonic and hypersonic vehicles. Tungsten's density makes it ideal for armour-piercing ammunition and...

Rare earth elements (REEs) is a group of 17 elements. The elements neodymium, praseodymium, terbium, dysprosium, gadolinium, samarium, and cerium are essential for high performance permanent magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, high-performance electronics, aerospace and defence....

Platinum group metals (PGMs) include platinum, palladium, iridium, ruthenium and rhodium. They are excellent catalysts and indispensable for hydrogen technologies. They play a key role in hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysers, enabling the conversion of hydrogen into electricity and vice versa....

Germanium (Ge) is a semiconductor material with excellent infrared transparency and optical properties, making it indispensable in sensors, night vision systems, thermal imaging cameras, and high-speed fibre optics. It is also used in solar panels, especially for satellites, LEDs and gamma ray...

Germanium (Ge) is a semiconductor material with excellent infrared transparency and optical properties, making it indispensable in sensors, night vision systems, thermal imaging cameras, and high-speed fibre optics. It is also used in solar panels, especially for satellites, LEDs and gamma ray...