Resource risks for Germany? Opportunities and strategies for dealing with critical and strategic raw materials

Critical and strategic raw materials are a key prerequisite for future technologies and industrial competitiveness – particularly in areas such as electromobility, digitalization, energy technology, and defense. At the same time, geopolitical uncertainties, trade conflicts, and concentrations along global supply chains are increasingly making the supply of raw materials a risk and security factor for Germany.

The federal government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz therefore further refined its national raw materials strategy in the summer of 2025: The focus is on expanding strategic partnerships, increasing the use of the Raw Materials Fund (KfW), supporting recycling and the circular economy, and closer cooperation with European initiatives such as the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The panel provides a platform for interdisciplinary dialogue between business, research, and politics and highlights how resilient, sustainable, and technologically viable raw materials strategies can be developed in concrete terms—also with a view to the role of economic development agencies.

Objectives

1. Classification within the current political framework

The event will focus on the German government's latest decisions on securing raw materials, with a particular emphasis on diversifying sources of supply, strategic stockpiling, technological substitution, and new partnerships with raw material-rich third countries. It ties in with the continuation of the national raw materials strategy (as of July 2025) and the operational design of KfW's raw materials fund.

2. Strengthening security of supply for key industries

The aim is to discuss with industry representatives how companies can protect themselves against risks such as price spikes, export restrictions, or political instability—and what role politics and funding instruments can play in this.

3.    Tapping into the potential of the circular economy and substitution

The discussion should highlight which technological developments in recycling, urban mining, and material substitution are already economically viable today—and how these can be integrated into existing industrial value chains.

4.    Specifying the role of economic development
The panel discussion offers an opportunity to sharpen the potential role of economic development agencies as a strategic partner – for example, in the areas of investor consulting, location development, technology transfer, or access to funding.

5.    Generate ideas for recommendations for action
The aim is to identify practical recommendations – for example, for political decision-makers, development banks, or cooperation initiatives with third countries. These ideas should be documented afterwards and, if necessary, fed into ongoing programs.

Key topics for discussion
•    Which raw materials are strategically relevant for Germany right now and in the future?
•    How can industries become resilient to global supply chain risks?
•    What role do recycling, substitution, and material efficiency play in terms of security of supply?
•    What contributions can economic development agencies and the public sector make?