On 10–11 June, the final event and General Assembly of the European project MaDiTraCe took place in Espoo, Finland. Representing the cluster were María Fernández, Alicia García and Belén Garzón, who joined project partners, policymakers, researchers and industry representatives to review the progress achieved in the fields of traceability, sustainability and the digitalisation of critical raw materials value chains. 

Hosted at the facilities of GTK and Metso, the event provided a platform for sharing results, showcasing technological developments and reflecting on the challenges facing raw materials value chains in a context shaped by digitalisation, sustainability and new regulatory requirements. 

A Platform for Innovation and Knowledge Exchange 

Over the course of the two day event, participants attended keynote speeches, live technology demonstrations, laboratory visits and networking sessions, gaining first-hand insight into the advances developed through MaDiTraCe. 

The programme included presentations on Digital Product Passports (DPPs), traceability systems, material labelling technologies and critical raw material (CRM) fingerprinting identification techniques. It also featured panel discussions focusing on industry needs and the evolution of European policies related to critical raw materials. 

The participation of experts from organisations such as the OECD, BRGM, DMT, CEA, SPHERITY, GTK and other leading institutions enriched the discussions and provided an international perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing the sector. 

Key Messages from the Event 

Several important conclusions emerged throughout the sessions, which will help shape the future development of traceability systems in Europe. 

• Interoperability as a Fundamental Requirement: For traceability solutions to deliver a meaningful impact, they must be capable of operating across different countries, supply chains and regulatory frameworks, thereby facilitating the exchange of information. 
• Governance Must Come Before Technology: Before implementing advanced technological solutions, it is essential to establish clear governance models, reliable data-sharing mechanisms and common standards that ensure trust and encourage adoption by all stakeholders across the value chain. 
• Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing at the Heart of the Discussion: The integration of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria into traceability systems was identified as a key priority. Beyond regulatory compliance, traceability should contribute to greater transparency, strengthen trust among stakeholders and support the development of more sustainable and responsible supply chains. 

A Shared Vision for the Future of European Raw Materials 

The keynote presentations delivered by Dr Susanne Guth-Orlowski and James Hermanson provided valuable insights into the international evolution of traceability systems and initiatives promoted by organisations such as the OECD. Contributions from the MaDiTraCe Advisory Board, represented by Jana Plananska and Tom Van Bellinghen, helped contextualise the strategic challenges that European raw materials value chains will face in the coming years. 

The event highlighted the work carried out by the consortium throughout the project, as well as the leadership and collaboration of the participating organisations in transforming a shared vision into tangible and applicable outcomes. 

The MaDiTraCe Legacy Continues 

Although the project is now entering its final phase, its results will continue to generate impact through future publications, policy recommendations, technical resources and tools developed during its implementation. 

For ISMC, participation in this event represented a valuable opportunity to exchange knowledge with European partners, learn about the latest developments in raw materials traceability and contribute to discussions on the future of more sustainable, resilient and transparent supply chains. 

Initiatives such as MaDiTraCe demonstrate that international collaboration, technological innovation and the adoption of common standards will be essential factors in ensuring the responsible supply of critical raw materials required to support Europe’s energy and digital transitions.