Conference Highlights – Stuttgart, 29–30 October
The Rare Earths and Magnets: Expanding European Capacities conference, organised jointly with EIT RawMaterials, brought together leading industry actors, policymakers, researchers, and innovators for two days of focused discussion in Stuttgart. The event examined Europe’s critical need to strengthen its rare earth element (REE) and magnet value chains—an increasingly strategic priority for the green and digital transitions.
Alternative Magnet & Motor Technologies
Speakers presented new developments in both rare-earth-based and rare-earth-free designs. Emerging motor technologies showcased pathways to reduce environmental impact and diversify material needs.
Diversifying & De-Risking Supply Chains
Experts outlined strategies to increase European autonomy by improving recycling capabilities, expanding processing capacities, and reshoring essential steps of the magnet production chain. The importance of circular economy models, including enhanced recovery and reuse, was a recurring theme.
Investment in Strategic Projects & International Partnerships
Presentations highlighted the funding mechanisms and collaborative opportunities essential to scaling Europe’s REE sector. With demand for rare earths rising, long-term investment and global cooperation are becoming increasingly urgent.
Attracting and Nurturing Talent
Participants stressed the need for education programmes, specialised training, and cross-sector collaboration to ensure a robust talent pipeline capable of supporting Europe’s evolving industrial ecosystem.
The Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) joined a roundtable discussion, outlining its role in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness and industrial resilience. DG GROW emphasised ongoing efforts to reduce strategic dependencies, reinforce the Single Market, and support SMEs through improved access to funding and international markets. Their contribution is helping bridge EU industrial policy with the practical needs of the sector.
Companies including Orano, Mkango Resources, Itelyum, Carester, and LKAB presented their current achievements and future plans. Their work spans recycling innovations, sustainable processing routes, and new extraction and refining initiatives—demonstrating promising momentum across the European REE landscape.
During the conference, I had the opportunity to present and disseminate the work of the REMHub project. REMHub covers the full REE value chain—from exploration and processing to metal production, magnet manufacturing, and recycling—and aims to commercialise innovations through a dedicated digital platform. This will accelerate new technologies and services on their path to market.
The project places strong emphasis on transparency and stakeholder engagement, using traceability tools, digital twins, and digital passports for REEs and REE magnets to build public trust. Guided by a Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach.
The conference underscored both the complexity and urgency of expanding Europe’s REE and magnet capacities. Collaboration—across industry, academia, and policy—is essential. The event highlighted clear progress, growing ambition, and a shared commitment to building a resilient, sustainable value chain that supports Europe’s broader strategic goals.