Connecting territories, industry, and EU policies for critical raw materials, bridging two European programming periods: a general framework

Critical Raw Materials (CRM) are vital to Europe’s industrial competitiveness, resilience, and strategic autonomy. Building on the I3 project CLOSER, this initiative explores how European policies, regional innovation ecosystems, and industrial value chains can collaborate to meet the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Chips Act. Ahead of the next EU programming period, two complementary roundtables connect policy and industrial viewpoints to address priorities, needs, and future cooperation opportunities.

Program

10:10 Institutional welcome and opening remarks by Session Chairs

Session Chairs:
Representative of CLUST-ER MECH
Representative of the Emilia-Romagna Region

10:45 Roundtable 1: From European strategies to regional action: shaping the next programming period
This session gathers EU institutions and regional authorities to discuss translating CRM priorities into effective territorial policies and funding instruments. Drawing on the current I3 programming cycle, the panel examines how interregional cooperation and regional innovation ecosystems can deliver EU industrial goals, identifying lessons learned, policy gaps, and priorities for the upcoming programming period.

Session Chairs:
Representative of Emilia-Romagna Region
Representative of Calabria Region
Representative of Lazio Region 
Representative of Ministry of Environment and Energy Security
Representative of EISMEA
Representative of DG GROW

12:00 Roundtable 2: From strategic priorities to industrial value chains: needs, opportunities and cooperation 
Focusing on the industrial ecosystem—from recovery and recycling to downstream end-users—this panel addresses the practical hurdles of securing, recycling, and valorising CRM. Businesses and regional policymakers will discuss technological gaps, investment barriers, market conditions, and circular supply chains to align industrial needs with regional capabilities and EU strategy.

Session Chairs:
Speakers and companies TBD