Alena Kudzko

   

Executive Director
GLOBSEC US Foundation

BIO

Alena Kudzko is Executive Director of the GLOBSEC US Foundation and Deputy Director of the GLOBSEC GeoTech Center. Her work focuses on the intersection of emerging technology, infrastructure, and geopolitics – with a particular emphasis on technology diffusion, strategic industrial policy, critical raw materials, and semiconductors. She leads cross-national initiatives that address how governments and companies can collaborate to secure essential technologies, scale digital infrastructure, and reduce vulnerabilities in an era of global competition. Over the past decade at GLOBSEC, Alena has shaped the organization’s work on security, defense innovation, and geostrategic competition. She has led high-level dialogues with policymakers, industry leaders, and experts across Europe and the United States, helping to reframe debates on national resilience, the role of technology in national security and competitiveness, and the evolution of global tech alliances.

Session 1
21 October 2025 / 09:30 - 10:30 | Lagoas hall

The innovation imperative: Bridging the supply-demand gap for critical raw materials by 2030

Europe and North America are facing a critical shortfall in the raw materials essential for clean energy, semiconductors, and defense. The challenge extends beyond mining – it’s about having a competitive edge in refining, advanced manufacturing, industrial know-how, and the ability to scale key technologies. The presentation will address various strategies that are available in European context to help bridge this gap. The emphasis is on defining European competitive advantages and integrating innovation in supply and demand side solutions.