Discover how HaDEA-managed projects contribute to the implementation of State of the Union initiatives: European Critical Raw Materials Act

HaDEA manages projects contributing to several key policy initiatives announced in the previous SOTEU addresses. The EU Critical Raw Materials Act is one of them.

Critical Raw Materials Act

During the 2022 State of the Union address,  the president of the European Commission announced  a Critical Raw Materials Act to secure the supply of these key materials. On 16 March 2023, the European Commission adopted a package on critical raw materials including a proposal for a Regulation, the European Critical Raw Materials Act. It aims to make the EU more self-reliant in mining, processing, and recycling of 34 critical metals and minerals, essential for the EU’s economy, and in particular for the green and digital transitions.

The European Critical Raw Materials Act aims to enhance the European Union's self-reliance in mining, processing, and recycling 34 critical metals and minerals that are essential for the EU's economy, particularly for the  green and digital transitions. This objective is envisaged to be achieved through:

• Increasing and diversifying the EU's critical raw materials supply;
• Strengthening circularity, including recycling;
• Supporting research and innovation in resource efficiency and the development of substitutes.

Funding under Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020

Funding for research and innovation projects has been a key element of the EU policy on raw materials.

For the period 2021- 2024, over €470 million has been earmarked under Horizon Europe for raw materials research and innovation. This covers primary and secondary raw materials, raw materials supply chain, and policy support.

HaDEA implements 30 Horizon Europe projects in the field of raw materials across 25 EU countries. Their total cost is €299 million out of which, €260 million is covered by EU funding under Horizon Europe.

In the previous programming period (2014-2020), the European Commission invested around €600 million in raw materials projects.

An insight into successful raw materials projects

HaDEA has published two volumes of "An insight into successful raw materials projects" that showcase the tangible progress made by EU-funded research and innovation projects in the raw materials sector. These publications emphasize the critical role of innovative technologies in achieving a sustainable and efficient supply of raw materials:

• “An insight into successful raw materials projects” volume 2
• “An insight into successful raw materials projects” volume 1

Background

Horizon 2020 was the EU’s multiannual funding programme between 2014 and 2020. H2020 provided Research and Innovation (R&I) funding for multi-national collaboration projects alongside individual researchers and SMEs via special funding instruments. Horizon 2020 was continued by the Horizon Europe Programme which will run until 2027.

Useful links

State Of the Union 2023

European Critical Raw Materials Act