Network aims to find substitutes for critical raw materials

The EU has identified 14 economically important raw materials that have unreliable supply chains. These are defined as critical raw materials because major European industrial sectors such as chemicals, construction, automotive, aerospace and machinery are dependent on them. One solution is to develop substitutes and the CRM_InnoNet project is being launched to help make this happen. The initiative is being co-ordinated by the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network and will bring together a range of industries to identify substitution challenges and opportunities through a series of workshops and an online portal. Catherine Joce, project co-ordinator at Chemistry Innovation, said: "The issue of critical raw materials affects a very diverse community. "Creating a network to bring these people together in a constructive environment will play a vital part in shaping the research and innovation environment to enable future development of substitutes to help address the problem of materials scarcity."