- Newly established Inter-Regional Centre will play a strategic role in diversifying Europe’s raw materials supply supporting the objectives of the Critical Raw Materials Act
- Inter-Regional Centre will connect critical and strategic raw materials projects in Türkiye and Central Asia with European industry
- EIT RawMaterials is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union
Istanbul, September 27, 2024 — EIT RawMaterials announced a new partnership with Türkiye-based Tethys: Trans-Eurasian Gateway, a body focused on secure critical raw materials supplies through international collaboration, to establish the ‘EIT RawMaterials Inter-Regional Centre’ in Istanbul, Türkiye.
The Centre marks the first EIT RawMaterials initiative in the region and will act as a hub to catalyse innovation, education, and business creation in the raw materials sector focusing on Türkiye and Central Asia, a region rich in critical raw materials. Despite the abundance, the region’s mineral resources remain overlooked and underdeveloped, making it a crucial missing link in the global energy transition. The Centre will also play a key role in introducing green technologies to the sector and help expand the region’s primary resource offerings to the European market.
With growing global competition for resources, the Centre will help strengthen international partnerships in the raw materials space and deliver Europe’s strategic objectives set out in the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). As part of its mission, the EIT RawMaterials Inter-Regional Centre will scout and identify critical raw materials projects in Türkiye and Central Asia that align with the CRMA. Once a project is identified, it will undergo an evaluation process to ascertain its maturity within the expert group of the EIT Raw Materials-led European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) to decide upon financing options. The Centre will also support fundraising through providing access to European and Türkiye-based investors and financial institutions.
Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director of EIT RawMaterials highlighted the significance of this collaboration, stating: “The EIT RawMaterials Inter-Regional Centre will unite our networks and expertise to help unlock the region’s vast raw materials potential, to attract funding for new projects while driving knowledge exchange and skills development. Tethys is uniquely positioned to complement and support the identification and assessment of relevant critical raw materials projects in the region. This initiative will play an important role in securing Europe’s raw materials sovereignty and long-term industrial competitiveness.”
Leyla Keser Berber, Chairperson and Co-Founder of Tethys, added: “We are thrilled to partner with EIT RawMaterials to establish this Centre, which will not only unlock the rich potential of the Tethyan Belt but also help strengthen Europe’s critical raw materials security. This collaboration is a significant milestone for the region’s raw materials industry. By bridging the gap between nations in need of these resources and suppliers that require funding, innovation, and skills, we are creating win-win solutions.”
Türkiye has strong trade ties with the EU and already plays a crucial role in supplying Europe with critical minerals, meeting 63% of the EU’s antimony, 99% of its boron, and 51% of its feldspar) needs. In recent years, the EU and Türkiye have also deepened their collaboration in science, research, technology, and innovation to support the green and digital transitions.
Media Contact
EIT RawMaterials
Elisabeth Ippel, Communications Manager
elisabeth.ippel@eitrawmaterials.eu
Tethys: Trans-Eurasian Gateway
Kaan Kursun, Corporate Communications
kaan.kursun@tethysgateway.com
About EIT RawMaterials
EIT RawMaterials is the largest and most active raw materials knowledge and innovation network, with more than 300 partner organisations spanning the entire raw materials value chain and promoting a circular economy. EIT RawMaterials is mandated to lead the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA), with over 750 members and an advanced project pipeline of more than 40 projects with a potential of over €25 billion in investments.
EIT RawMaterials (supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, a body of the European Union) was established in 2015 to advance Europe’s transition into a sustainable economy, with a mission to secure a sustainable raw materials supply for Europe, close materials loops, and design product solutions to ultimately develop raw materials into a major strength for Europe by driving innovation, education, and entrepreneurship. Since 2016, EIT RawMaterials has deployed more than €600 million in strategic funding supporting over 600 projects and start-ups. These have raised a further €500 million from the market, resulting in cumulative direct funding exceeding €1 billion into projects and programmes across Europe. Find out more at www.eitrawmaterials.eu.
About Tethys
Tethys, established in 2023, is a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to advancing the sustainable extraction and processing of critical raw materials essential for the European industry in line with the EU’s Green Deal. Focusing on innovative technologies and solutions, Tethys champions the integration of education in the raw materials field, promoting comprehensive training programs that aim to elevate industry standards. Tethys is dedicated to responsible mining practices that adhere to the highest Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, ensuring that all operations foster environmental sustainability, social responsibility, and transparent governance. For more information, go to: https://www.tethysgateway.com.