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Sweden leads fivefold EU effort on raw materials
The EU is stepping up its efforts in raw materials, with the new Raw Materials Partnership proposed at a budget of €385 million over eleven years — a five-fold increase compared with the previous scheme. Sweden has coordinated this work
The partnership is a direct response to the EU's objective to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of critical raw materials.
Sweden takes a leadership role
Sweden, through Vinnova, has been assigned the role of coordinator for the partnership “RAMP – Raw Materials Partnership for the Green and Digital Transition”. The collaboration involves 54 partner organizations from 32 countries and regions. It has a planned budget of 385 million euros over 11 years, of which the European Commission is expected to contribute 116 million, a significant increase compared to its predecessor ERA-MIN.
- As coordinator Vinnova takes a leading international role, which is natural given Sweden's strong position in mining and technology. RAMP also creates direct opportunities for Swedish organizations to participate in international project, which will be a springboard for our mining technology and metal production, says Tobias Kampmann, responsible programme manager at Vinnova.
Dependence creates vulnerability
Raw materials are crucial for the green and digital transition, but the EU is currently heavily dependent on imports from other countries. At the same time, demand is increasing sharply as raw materials are needed in the production of very new technologies, for example, demand for lithium is expected to increase by at least 2100 percent by 2050. The pandemic, the war in Ukraine and export restrictions have also shown the risks of vulnerable supply chains. Europe must improve in reusing and recycling materials. Therefore, recycling and resource efficiency will be crucial for the EU to become more independent. In the short term, this needs to be complemented by some extraction to meet Europe's needs.
Importance for Sweden and Europe
Political pressure is mounting for safe, resilient and sustainable value chains. RAMP is directly linked to the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, which sets the Union's objective for 2030:
- 10 percent of raw materials to be extracted within the EU
- 40 percent to be processed within the EU
- 25 percent should come from recycling
For Sweden, this means great opportunities.
- Sweden accounts for 93 percent of all iron ore production in the EU and is a world leader in mining technology with companies such as Epiroc and Sandvik. RAMP will fund more than 140 interdisciplinary research projects covering the entire value chain from exploration to recycling. The partnership also creates synergies with other EU initiatives, allowing our research results to be scaled to commercialisation, continues Tobias Kampmann, programme manager at Vinnova.
Launch in 2026
The European Commission’s assessment is expected towards the end of the year. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the partnership’s launch in 2026.
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Last updated 3 October 2025