On 24 March 2026, leading experts from industry, research, and policy gathered in Augsburg, Germany for the REEsilience Main Event, hosted by Hosokawa Alpine AG. The event focused on one of Europe’s most pressing strategic challenges: building a more resilient and sustainable supply chain for magnetic rare earth materials and products.
The full-day programme brought together key stakeholders to exchange insights on securing the supply of permanent magnets which are essential components for clean energy technologies, mobility, and digital applications. Discussions highlighted both the opportunities and vulnerabilities within Europe’s current supply landscape.
Keynotes and Expert Panels on Supply Chain and Circularity
The event opened with welcome remarks from REEsilience Project Coordinator Prof. Dr. Carlo Burkhardt from Pforzheim University and host representatives, followed by a keynote presentation outlining the REEsilience project’s journey from concept to impact.
Throughout the day, expert panels explored critical topics such as strengthening the supply chain “from mine to magnet” and increasing circularity in permanent magnet production. Speakers from industry and academia emphasised the need for closer collaboration across the value chain, as well as innovation in recycling and materials processing.
Technical Showcase of REEsilience Solutions
A central highlight was the technical showcase of REEsilience solutions, presenting advances in areas such as Design for Recycling, automated waste processing and system dynamics modelling for material availability forecasting. These innovations aim to reduce Europe’s dependence on external sources while improving sustainability and efficiency.
Policy perspectives also played a key role, with updates from European Commission representative Federica Miccoli on the European Union’s approach to critical raw materials, including the implications of the Critical Raw Materials Act for rare-earth-based technologies. The discussions underlined the importance of aligning regulatory frameworks with industrial capabilities to accelerate the green transition.
Networking and EU-Funded Project Exhibitions
Beyond the conference sessions, participants had the opportunity to engage in networking opportunities as well as an exhibition of related EU-funded projects such as GREENE, HARMONY, INSPIREE, MaDiTraCe, PERMANET, REMHub, SCREEN3.
