Rare Earths and Magnets - Expanding the European capacities
Following the launch of the Rare Earths and Magnet Strategic Impact Group Network (SIGN) in Frankfurt this past April—where discussions highlighted Europe’s dependency on rare earth permanent magnets and the urgency of diversifying supply—EIT RawMaterials is advancing the dialogue with the next milestone event in Stuttgart.
Organised in collaboration with the Horizon Europe project PASSENGER, this two-day conference will bring together leading stakeholders from across the value chain to drive forward a resilient and sustainable rare earths and magnet strategy for Europe.
Thematic Focus
Alongside a guided visit to the Mercedes-Benz assembly plant, the programme will explore the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and industrial collaboration. Key topics include:
Alternative magnet and motor technologies
Pathways to diversified and de-risked magnet supply chains in the European Circular Economy
Investment in EU Strategic Projects and international supply chain partnerships
Attracting and nurturing talent for the sector
Agenda
Day 1 - 29 October
09:00 – 9:25 | Moderator: Roland Gauss, Innovation Director, EIT RawMaterials
Inaugural address: Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director, EIT RawMaterials Dider Zimmermann, Director of Business Development & Fundraising, EIT RawMaterials
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09.25-10.00 | Opening session
Speakers:
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10:00 – 10.30 | Fireside Chat: Magnets made in Europe, Alexander Barcza, VP Permanent Magnets, Vacuumschmelze |
10:30 – 11.00 | Coffee Break |
11.00 – 11.20 | Permanent magnet applications in the automotive sector, Speaker:
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11.20 – 11.40 | Rare earths criticality: Key trends in magnetic materials Speaker:
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11.40 – 12:00 | High-performance ferrite magnets and pilot scale manufacturing Speakers:
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12.00 – 12:30 | Manganese-based magnets and their application potential Speaker:
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12.30 – 14.30 | Lunch + Mercedes Museum Visit |
14.30 – 15.30 | Motor applications of new innovative magnetic materials Speakers:
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15.30 – 16.00 | CRM4EU Cluster and introduction of projects
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16.00 – 16.30 | Coffee Break |
16.30 – 16.50 | The Mercedes Modular Architecture for BEV and HEV Speaker:
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16.50 – 17.10 | The strategic pathway to diversified and de-risked magnet supply chains in the European Circular Economy Speakers:
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17.10 – 18.00 | EU strategic projects: The way forward
Moderator: Luis Alberto Tercero, Head of Business Unit Raw Materials, Fraunhofer Institute Speakers:
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18.00 – 18.10 | Closing remarks |
18.30 – 21.00 | Reception and Dinner |
Day 2 – 30 October | |
8.45 – 09.05 | European business in rare earth materials Speaker:
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09.05 – 09.35 | Securing raw materials for Europe: International partnerships Speakers:
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09.35 – 10.25 | An alternative pricing mechanism to build a European rare earth value chain - Pros and cons
Moderator: Lee Constable, Founder & CEO, Critical Minerals Tomorrow Limited Speakers:
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10.25 – 11.55 | JRC-DG Grow Joint Workshop on Permanent magnet recyclability and recycled content under the Critical Raw Materials Act Moderated by:
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11.55 – 12.15 | Smart Minds: EIT RawMaterials and Advanced Materials Academies Speaker:
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12.15 – 13.15 | Lunch |
13.15 – 16.30 | Mercedes-Benz assembly plant tour |
16.00 – 18.00 | SIGN Core Group Meeting (invitation only) |