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...

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...

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...

This publication is intended to provide a wider audience with the opportunity to access updated information on 1,888 significant mineral deposits located in Africa. It fills a critical information gap on the continent's current and potential future mineral endowment-including for battery...

This study looks at how recycling (RCY), natural resource rents (NRR), and uncertainty in climate policy (CPU) affect material sustainability in the United States, using the material footprint (MF) as the main measure. This research uses yearly data from 1990 to 2023 and applies quantile 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

Nickel (Ni) is used in the cathodes of rechargeable batteries for e-mobility and energy storage and in superalloys for turbines in aerospace and renewable energy generation. It is corrosion resistant, increases material strength, and can withstand extreme temperatures. Due to its properties, it...

Nickel (Ni) is used in the cathodes of rechargeable batteries for e-mobility and energy storage and in superalloys for turbines in aerospace and renewable energy generation. It is corrosion resistant, increases material strength, and can withstand extreme temperatures. Due to its properties, it...

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....

Manganese (Mn) is a metal used for energy storage and steel production. In battery technology, manganese is used in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries, where it enhances stability and cost-effectiveness. In steelmaking, manganese improves toughness, hardness, and corrosion resistance, making...

Magnesium (Mg) is the lightest structural metal, offering a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for automotive, aerospace and defence applications. It is widely used in lightweight vehicle parts to improve fuel efficiency and performance, aircraft components, missile casings....

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...

Magnesium (Mg) is the lightest structural metal, offering a high strength-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for automotive, aerospace and defence applications. It is widely used in lightweight vehicle parts to improve fuel efficiency and performance, aircraft components, missile casings....

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.