Raw materials and advanced materials are the key enablers of the green energy transition

The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) was announced on 3 September 2020, as part of an Action Plan on Critical Raw Materials, and the publication of the 2020 List of Critical Raw Materials.

Metals, minerals and advanced materials are the key enablers for a globally competitive, green, and digital Europe. The European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) contributes to ensure a reliable, secure and sustainable access to raw materials.

ERMA’s vision is to secure access to critical and strategic raw materials, advanced materials, and processing know-how for EU Industrial Ecosystems. The alliance will involve all relevant stakeholders, including industrial actors along the value chain, Member States and regions, trade unions, civil society, research and technology organisations, investors and NGOs.

Without reliable and sustainable access to raw materials, the Green Deal and the EU’s competitiveness are at stake. ERMA’s most important task is to secure raw materials supply in Europe by identifying investment opportunities for sustainable and socially responsible access to raw materials in Europe from primary and secondary sources.

Bernd Schäfer, CEO of EIT RawMaterials

On 23 November, two months after the launch of the European Raw Materials Alliance by the European Commission, ERMA became officially operational. An impressive number of over 300 partners from industry, research, government institutions and civil society came together to discuss how Europe’s raw materials supply can be secured in order to enable the EU’s green and digital transition.