ISMC leads key forum on critical raw materials and strategic financing in Madrid
Industry leaders, geopolitical analysts and diplomatic representatives discuss the future of strategic resources in Europe
Madrid, 14 April 2025 — The Club Financiero Génova in Madrid served as the venue for a high-level strategic breakfast organised by the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC) in collaboration with the ICAMCyL Foundation and the European project I4-GREEN. The forum brought together prominent figures from the industrial, diplomatic and academic sectors to address the pressing challenges and opportunities related to investment in critical raw materials and the financial instruments needed to ensure their secure and sustainable supply.
Critical raw materials: A matter of strategic security
Moderated by Dr Santiago Cuesta López, Director General of the ICAMCyL Foundation and ISMC, the event focused on the complex landscape surrounding access to vital resources such as tungsten, lithium and beryllium—essential for Europe’s energy, technology and defence sectors. Cuesta López stressed that “critical raw materials are no longer merely an economic or industrial concern: they have become a question of security, sovereignty and the future of Europe.”
International participation and geopolitical insight
The first panel featured the participation of His Excellency Mr Nodir Ergashev, Consul of Uzbekistan in Spain, who underlined his country’s commitment to becoming a key partner for Europe in terms of stable resource supply. Ms Eugenia Pérez, Commercial Attaché at the Canadian Embassy in Spain, highlighted Canada’s responsible resource management model and the importance of fostering long-term bilateral partnerships.
Contributions from experts at the Spanish Institute for Strategic Studies (IEEE), EsadeGeo, and the European mining ecosystem emphasised how geopolitics is now a central factor in shaping industrial and investment policy.
European financing for strategic projects
The second panel, moderated by Raúl Fernández Abad, President of the Madrid Mining Club and CEO of Leonore Development, examined the geopolitical impacts on raw material business and financing. It featured executives from SALORO, Visco Orinoco, Grupo Nogar, and the Port Authority of Huelva, all stressing the need to establish resilient supply chains and the key role of logistics and maritime infrastructure in boosting competitiveness.
Milena Stoyanova, Project Officer at the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), presented the funding opportunities available through the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) Instrument, which can allocate up to €10 million to industrial innovation projects aligned with the EU Green Deal strategy.
Strengthening business synergies
The forum concluded with business synergy sessions designed to spark collaboration between investors, companies, and public sector representatives. These sessions reinforced the role of ISMC and ICAMCyL as pivotal actors in the push towards a more sustainable, autonomous and innovation-driven industrial model in Europe.
