Global Assessments and Strategies for Critical and Strategic Raw Materials

About the event

Clean energy, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and defence all depend on critical and strategic raw materials (CSRMs). As demand grows, securing their supply has become a priority for economies around the world. Resource-rich and producing countries play a central role in meeting that demand. At the same time, they are working towards their own economic, industrial, environmental and social goals.

Many producing countries now want to add more value at home. They are investing in processing, refining, manufacturing, skills and innovation, so that more of the benefits of global raw material value chains stay in their own economies.

The 2026 IRTC Round Table brings these countries' voices to the centre of the international discussion.

What we'll discuss

Experts from producing countries will present their national perspectives on critical and strategic raw materials, including:

• National strategies and priorities: how countries assess the strategic value of their mineral resources
• Resource governance: regulatory frameworks and geological potential
• Investment and industrial policy: attracting investment and building downstream industries
• Value addition and beneficiation: capturing more value through processing, refining and manufacturing
• Sustainability and circularity: environmental and social requirements, and circular economy initiatives
• International partnerships: cooperation between producing and consuming economies

Together, we will look for common themes across regions, share lessons learned and emerging policy approaches, and explore how supplier-country perspectives can strengthen the methods used for criticality and strategicity assessments.

Outcome: a joint White Paper

After the Round Table, IRTC will coordinate a White Paper with the participating experts. It will:

• Highlight common opportunities, challenges and priorities across supplier countries
• Identify where approaches to resource management, value creation, supply chain resilience and international cooperation converge and differ
• Contribute to a broader, more balanced dialogue between producing and consuming economies