Strategic materials in a shifting geopolitical landscape

Critical minerals are becoming a strategic cornerstone of the global energy transition. Technologies such as wind turbines, solar panels, EV batteries, hydrogen electrolysers and digital infrastructure all depend on a reliable supply of materials including lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements. 

At the same time, supply chains are highly concentrated and increasingly influenced by geopolitics, export controls and industrial policy. This creates new challenges around security of supply, strategic autonomy, market volatility and investment. 

During the Masterclass Critical Minerals, you explore how energy, industry, geopolitics and markets come together in the global race for critical raw materials. You gain insight into supply and demand dynamics, international policy responses and the role of innovation, recycling and circular business models in building more resilient supply chains. 

How you benefit:

  • Critical minerals: understand which raw materials are essential for clean energy technologies and why they matter for the energy transition. 
  • Geopolitics and security of supply: explore how supply concentration, export controls and international power dynamics influence access to strategic minerals. 
  • Market dynamics: gain insight into supply and demand, price volatility and the factors shaping critical minerals markets. 
  • International policy: compare strategies from the EU, US, China and other major regions seeking to strengthen security of supply and strategic autonomy. 
  • Technology and innovation: explore developments in extraction, battery chemistry, substitution and other technologies that may reduce dependence on scarce resources. 
  • Recycling and circularity: understand how recycling and circular business models can contribute to more resilient critical raw material supply chains. 
  • Strategic decision-making: translate developments in critical minerals into implications for your own organisation, investments or policy decisions. 

During this Masterclass Critical Minerals, you develop a strategic understanding of the role of critical raw materials within the energy transition. 

You begin by examining which minerals are most important for clean energy technologies. Materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements are fundamental to EV batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and hydrogen electrolysers. Their availability can therefore directly influence the pace and cost of the energy transition. 

The programme then explores the global critical minerals market. You examine supply and demand dynamics, supply concentration and market volatility, and consider why production and refining capacity for many minerals is concentrated in a relatively small number of countries. 

Geopolitics is a central part of the programme. You analyse how export controls, trade policy, strategic competition and industrial policy are influencing critical minerals supply chains. Particular attention is given to policy responses in Europe, the United States and China and to the growing importance of strategic autonomy and security of supply. 

You also explore technological and circular solutions. Developments in extraction, battery chemistry, material substitution, recycling and circular business models can reduce vulnerabilities and create new opportunities within the critical minerals value chain. 

Through expert contributions and practical discussions, you connect geopolitical, technological and market developments and assess what they mean for energy companies, industry, policymakers, investors and other organisations involved in the energy transition. 

After this masterclass, you will be able to: 

  • Identify the critical minerals and critical raw materials that are most important for clean energy technologies. 
  • Explain how lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements are used in technologies such as EV batteries, wind turbines, solar panels and hydrogen electrolysers. 
  • Analyse global supply and demand dynamics and their impact on critical minerals markets. 
  • Assess how supply concentration, export controls and geopolitical developments affect security of supply. 
  • Compare critical minerals policy and industrial strategies in the EU, US, China and other major markets. 
  • Evaluate how market volatility and geopolitical risk can influence investment and strategic decision-making. 
  • Assess the potential of innovation, recycling, alternative battery chemistry and circular business models to improve resilience. 
  • Translate critical minerals developments into strategic implications for your own organisation, sector or investment portfolio. 

What to expect during a masterclass 

In addition to substantive learning and valuable professional connections, we provide a well-organised learning experience. 

After completing the masterclass, you will receive a digital certificate of participation that can easily be added to your LinkedIn profile. Speaker presentations will be shared as reference material, allowing you to revisit the content or share relevant insights with colleagues. 

Lunch and healthy snacks are provided throughout the day. A dedicated event manager will be on site to ensure the programme runs smoothly and to assist with any practical questions. 

Who should attend? 

The Masterclass Critical Minerals is designed for professionals who need to understand how access to critical raw materials is influencing the energy transition, industrial strategy and global markets. 

The masterclass is particularly relevant for: 

  • Professionals working at energy companies, technology companies, industrial organisations and infrastructure companies that depend on critical minerals and strategic materials. 
  • Strategy professionals, business developers and project managers working on clean energy technologies, supply chains or industrial development. 
  • Policy, regulatory and public affairs professionals working on critical minerals policy, energy security, industrial policy or strategic autonomy. 
  • Consultants and advisors working on energy transition, geopolitics, supply chains, sustainability or critical raw materials. 
  • Investors, financial professionals and risk managers assessing critical minerals markets, commodity exposure or clean energy investments. 
  • Procurement and supply chain professionals dealing with lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rare earth elements or other critical materials. 
  • Professionals involved in recycling, circular business models, battery technology or innovation aimed at reducing supply chain dependency. 
Module 1
  • Lecture 1 Thursday 27 May 2027 08:30 - 17:00
  • LocationZuid-Holland in Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands

Raphaël Danino-Perraud

Raphaël Danino-Perraud is a commissioned officer (with the rank of lieutenant-colonel) from the Operational Energy Service (SEO), working for the French Defence Staff. He also works as an independent consultant for diverse institutions and companies. Finally, he is a research fellow at the French Institute for International Relations (IFRI) but also a part-time lecturer at French engineering schools such as Centrale Supélec and École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (ENPC).

Raphaël Danino-Perraud graduated from Sciences-Po Lyon (2012) with a degree in International Relations and in Business Intelligence. From 2016 to 2020, he performed a PhD in resource economics at the University of Orléans (LEO) and the French Geological Survey Bureau (BRGM).

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Session
2
Course type
On site programme
Date
27 May 2027
Location
Zuid-Holland, The Netherlands
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