On February 18, 2025, the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA) hosted a seminar titled “How can the Swedish mining cluster strengthen Europe’s supply of metals and minerals?”. The seminar was based on IVA’s flagship project Roadmap for Metals and Minerals, a two-year initiative that has engaged over 80 IVA fellows from industry, academia, NGOs and the public sector. Additionally, an international reference group consisting of world-leading experts has contributed insights and perspectives.
The seminar marked the first time that the insights and recommendations from Roadmap for Metals and Minerals, funded by Swedish Mining Innovation, were presented to an international audience.
Current state – the critical challenges for Europe’s minerals and metals supply:
- The demand for metals and minerals is increasing.
- Europe has a significant dependency on imports, and global value chains are vulnerable.
- There is a high market concentration for critical raw materials and components.
- To secure the necessary investments in Sweden and Europe is complex.
- The recycling rate is almost non-existent for many critical metals and minerals.
The discussions focused on Sweden’s role, alongside other Nordic countries, in strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy by ensuring access to critical raw materials. By developing domestic resources and strengthening Nordic collaboration, the region can become a key player in Europe’s efforts towards increased self-sufficiency and strategic autonomy. However, achieving this goal requires commitment and broad action from society, academia and industry – boiling down to a roadmap covering six high priorities.
The roadmap: Six priorities for policy-makers, industry and academia
-
Sweden should take a leading role in Europe’s supply of metals and minerals.
-
Strengthen the Swedish mining, mining technology and recycling industries.
-
Simplify for reuse and materials recycling.
-
Create new international strategic partnerships and strengthen existing ones.
-
Streamline authorization processes and tools to manage conflicts of objectives and interests.
-
Wide-ranging investment in knowledge, research and innovation in metals and minerals.
Watch the recording here and find the final report here.
