Critical Raw Materials: From Agenda to Engineering Reality

The event titled Critical Raw Materials: From Agenda to Engineering Reality is a focused workshop that takes place at the Energy Cave in The Hague, Netherlands. This workshop addresses the vital role of Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) such as lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and copper, which are essential for technologies that drive the energy transition and digital economy. The event is organized by the IChemE Netherlands Members Group and the AIChE Netherlands/Belgium Section in collaboration with The Netherlands Materials Observatory (TNO NMO). It aims to bring together engineers, applied researchers, and Dutch companies to explore the practical challenges related to the recovery and processing of CRMs, particularly focusing on the engineering feasibility of scaling these processes.Participants will engage in short challenge pitches from Dutch companies that are actively working on sectors such as lithium refining, electronics recycling, and metal recovery. Following these pitches, there will be facilitated breakout discussions that focus on unresolved engineering challenges in the field. A plenary Expert Reality Check panel will include applied research, scale-up, and operability experts, ensuring a robust dialogue on the intersection of innovation priorities and industrial realities. This workshop is designed to be highly interactive, prioritizing practical engineering challenges over presentations or policy discussions. It should be noted that the material presented at the workshop has not undergone peer review, and the opinions expressed are those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views of IChemE or the Netherlands Member Group.