Expert Forum: Launch of the Exploration & Mining SIGN
A side event of The Mining and Mineral Halls (MMH)
VI Mining and Minerals Hall (MMH) 2026
Mining: a strategic pillar for the future of Europe
Taking place in Seville from 20–22 October 2026, the Mining & Minerals Hall (MMH) is one of Europe’s major events for the mining and minerals sector, bringing together an international community through a combination of exhibition, scientific congress and programmes focused on outreach and innovation. The 2026 edition will return with a reinforced format, showcasing the latest developments across the sector, high-level perspectives on mineral raw materials, an Innovation Hub, and activities designed to engage the next generation of professionals and the wider public. Selected participants of the Expert Forum will receive complimentary access to the event. For this edition, those accepted will also receive a ticket to the MMH Expo, hosted at the same venue.
Under the theme “Mining: a strategic pillar for the future of Europe,” MMH provides a unique meeting point for industry, technology providers, researchers, policymakers, investors and other key stakeholders to debate challenges, exchange perspectives and build common solutions.
For the Exploration & Mining Expert Forum, MMH offers more than a venue: it provides a strategic setting at the heart of Europe’s mining ecosystem. Bringing the Forum into this environment connects the discussion directly with the companies, technologies, investors and experts shaping the sector’s future, creating valuable opportunities for dialogue, exchange and collaboration.
About the Expert Forum
The EIT RawMaterials Strategic Impact Groups & Networks (SIGNs) provide a powerful platform to help companies navigate these complex challenges and secure a competitive edge by accessing innovative technologies, a skilled workforce, public and private funding and connect with a global community driving knowledge and innovation in the raw materials sector. SIGNs also act as a sounding board for policymakers, bringing industry perspectives and expertise into the development of European policy.
At MMH 2026, EIT RawMaterials will officially launch the new Exploration & Mining SIGN, bringing together key stakeholders from across the global exploration, mining and mineral processing ecosystem, with a particular focus on the European ecosystem.
As a dedicated side event of MMH 2026, the Exploration & Mining Expert Forum will represent the founding meeting of the new SIGN. Through high-level discussions and interactive sessions, participants will exchange knowledge and best practices, explore priority themes and contribute to a shared roadmap and community-driven agenda that will shape the SIGN’s future activities.
The discussions will address some of the key challenges and opportunities facing the sector, including innovation, investment, permitting, sustainability, policy, social licence to operate and skills, with the ambition to foster collaboration, accelerate innovation and strengthen a competitive, responsible and resilient European exploration and mining sector.
Why Attend?
Share your ideas, challenge existing thinking and contribute to shaping the future of European exploration and mining. This is not just a place to listen - it is a place to influence the conversation and help drive meaningful change.
Connect with the key players shaping the entire exploration, mining and mineral processing ecosystem - from industry leaders and start-ups to academia, policymakers, investors, technology providers and project developers. Meet the people who have the knowledge, resources and influence to turn ambition into change.
Engage in open, cross-sector discussions designed to connect different perspectives, identify common challenges and build a shared roadmap for the next generation of European exploration and mining. Because transforming the sector requires a common direction.
Move beyond discussion and discover new partnerships, technologies, investment opportunities and practical solutions that can help projects move forward. Leave with new connections, new perspectives and concrete opportunities to turn ideas into impact.
Format
The Expert Forum kicks off with a networking reception at the EIT RawMaterials booth in the MMH exhibition area on 20 October.
The main conference day on 21 October combines keynotes, panels and fireside chats in the morning, bringing together leading voices from across the exploration, mining and mineral processing ecosystem. In the afternoon, World Café sessions will take the discussions further, creating an interactive space to exchange perspectives, explore challenges and work towards shared ideas and solutions.
On 22 October, participants will have the opportunity to join an optional site visit to Atalaya Mining, bringing the conversation from the conference room to a real mining operation.
Who Should Attend?
The Expert Forum brings together the key players shaping the future of European exploration, mining and mineral processing.
It is designed for:
- Mining and junior exploration companies
- Mineral processing companies
- Mining equipment, technology and solution providers across exploration, mining and mineral processing
- Research organisations and academia
- Industry associations and public institutions
- Investors and financial institutions
- NGOs and other stakeholders shaping the sector
Whether you are developing a project, providing the technology, investing in the next generation of mining, conducting research or shaping policy, this is a place to connect with the people who can help move the industry forward.
Agenda
Day 1 – 20 October | |
| 16:00 - 18:00 | Networking reception at EIT RawMaterials booth |
Day 2 – 21 October | |
| 8:30 - 8:55 | Registration |
| 8:55 - 9:00 | Welcome |
| 9:00 - 9:30 | Transforming perceptions, securing supplies: Preparing Europe for a new mining era
Europe has the opportunity to set the global benchmark for responsible mining. With strong ESG standards, innovative technologies, rich resources, and successful community engagement practices, Europe can demonstrate how mining creates value for society. While Europe provides the policy framework, Member States are key to turning ambition into action. This discussion will explore how leading countries are advancing responsible mining through enabling policies, public trust, and stakeholder engagement, creating benefits for communities and Europe as a whole.
Moderated by Jennifer Baker |
| 9:30 - 9:40 | Europe’s mining opportunity: Why this Strategic Impact Group Network (SIGN) can drive change
Europe is at a turning point for its mining sector. This session will explore Europe’s position in the global mining landscape, the strengths of its existing ecosystem, and the opportunities ahead. It will highlight why now is the right moment for the Exploration & Mining SIGN to bring together industry, investors, academia, startups, and policymakers to align efforts, foster innovation, and accelerate the responsible development of Europe’s mining ambitions.
Moderated by Jennifer Baker |
| 9:40 - 10:10 | The human side of mining’s future: How to fill the gaps
Can Europe secure the talent it needs to deliver its mining ambitions? As demand for raw materials grows, the sector faces increasing competition for skilled professionals, not only against other industries, but also against perceptions that mining is no longer an attractive career choice. Rather than focusing on the challenge itself, this session will explore what is already working. Through successful initiatives and good practices, the discussion will examine how Europe can attract new talent, strengthen education and training, and build the next generation of mining professionals. The key question is simple: is Europe moving fast enough to close the talent gap, or will skills become the biggest bottleneck to its mining future?
Moderated by Stephanie Levy |
| 10:10 – 10:50 | Winning Hearts before breaking Ground
Europe needs new mines, but is society ready to accept them? This session will explore how social acceptance can determine the success or failure of mining projects, and what is at stake for Europe if public trust is not secured. Through real examples at different stages of development, from a project yet to start to operating mines, the discussion will examine how companies engage with communities, address concerns, and build long-term support. It will also ask a challenging question: can Europe achieve its mining ambitions without earning public acceptance, or will opposition continue to delay the projects it urgently needs?
Moderated by Mark Rachovides |
| 10:50 -11:20 | Coffee break |
| 11:20 - 11:40 | What Does It Take to Permit a Mine in Europe?
Permitting is often identified as one of the major barriers to developing mining projects in Europe. But what determines whether a project can successfully navigate the permitting process? Bringing together a European perspective and practical experience from mining projects, the session will explore what shapes permitting outcomes, where the main challenges arise, and what can make permitting more predictable and effective while enabling responsible projects to move forward.
Moderated by Didier Zimmermann |
| 11:40-12:20 | What is mining really? Redefining the industry for the next generation
Europe leads in mining technology, but can it stay ahead? Automation, robotics, digitalisation, and electrification are transforming the mining industry, and European companies are already exporting world-class solutions across the globe. This session will showcase technologies that are reshaping mining today, while addressing a critical question: is Europe moving fast enough to maintain its technological edge? The discussion will explore how Europe can continue to innovate, test, and deploy new solutions at scale, and what is needed to remain competitive in an increasingly contested global race for mining technology leadership.
Moderated by Christoph Danner |
| 12:20 - 12:50 | Investing in mining: Turning risk into strategic opportunity
Can Europe Attract the Capital It Needs to Build New Mines? Europe's ambition to secure critical raw materials will require major investment across the mining value chain, yet many investors continue to favour established mining jurisdictions such as Canada and Australia. What is preventing capital from flowing into European projects? Bringing together mining developers and investors, this session will explore how financing needs evolve from project development to production, what makes a project investable, and whether Europe's regulatory, permitting and market environment is competitive enough to attract private capital at the scale required.
Moderated by Michael Starke |
| 12:50 - 13:00 | Conclusion on first session and presentation of afternoon activities |
| 13:00 - 14:00 | Lunch break |
| 14:00 - 14:40 | World Cafe Workstation 1 – four parallel groups |
| 14:40 - 14:50 | Coffee break |
| 14:50 - 15:30 | World Cafe Workstation 2 – four parallel groups |
| 15:30 - 15:40 | Coffee break |
| 15:40-16:10 | World Cafe Workstation 3 – four parallel groups |
| 16:10 -16:20 | Coffee break |
| 16:20-17:00 | World Cafe Workstation 4 – four parallel groups |
| 17:00 - 17:30 | Coffee break |
| 17:30 - 17:45 | World Cafe conclusions / SIGNS next steps / Wrap up |
Day 3 - 22 October | |
| 07:30-15:00 | Field visit - Mine excursion at Atalaya Mining (Rio Tinto Mine) |
*Agenda may be subject to change.
Hotels
Stay at one of our participating hotels to benefit from preferred rates, great amenities, and close access to the Mining and Mineral Halls (MMH) in Seville, while making the most of your networking opportunities at the Exploration & Mining Expert Forum.
Apply To Attend
Selected participants receive complimentary access to the Exploration & Mining SIGN Expert Forum, connecting them directly with the industry leaders, investors and policymakers shaping Europe's mining future.
