European Raw Materials Week: From Extraction to Circularity: Financing Mechanisms to Implement the CRMA

Fascinating conversation about CRM finance on Monday in Brussels during the Raw Materials Week, with interventions from Enrico Letta, Thibaud Voïta., Penelope Le Menestrel, Thomas Lagrée, Julia Poliscanova, Monika Zsigri and Julia Reinaud

Over the past 10-15 years, hashtag#Europe lost its edge and it will take time to recover. However, we have the instruments, political will and awareness of what needs to happen.

#CRMs represent a great and growing investment opportunity for Europe, with sovereignty, attractivity and competitiveness acting like catalysts that can leveraged to accelerate the pace.

For this to happen, public policies need to address important challenges:
▶️ The type of funding we have: R&D is here, but no ramp-up and scaling. We lack the experience and it takes time to ramp up and need to develop a culture of risk,
▶️ Companies are calling for more opex support,
▶️ More support based on output and not project is also needed – the US Inflation Reduction Act could be a great inspiration for that.

Meanwhile, supply chains are global, and Europe needs some cooperation and a diverse set of partners, typically encouraging public-private partnerships. The recent announcement of a partnership between Stellantis and the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL is in that sense very promising.