Organisation
and Partners

The Forum was organised by Advantix Ltd with the support of SRK Consulting, EDM-Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro, ERM, UzTMK, Savannah Resources, Knight Piesold, SLR, Bara Consulting, British Embassy Lisbon and the UK Department of Business Development.  

Local and international industry partners of the Forum include Cluster Portugal Mineral Resources, Battery Cluster Portugal, Intraw, Assimagra, Critical Productions, Euromataux, Euromines, ICSG, International Lithium Association, International Magnesium Association, Strategist Solutions, and many others.

In his keynote, Mr Joaquim Nunes de Almeida, Director in charge of “Decarbonisation, Mobility, Raw Materials” from the European Commission’s DG GROW, outlined the European Commission’s strategy for “Made in Europe” security of metals and minerals for a sustainable future, highlighting key policy actions. These actions include supporting strategic critical raw material projects (about 60 globally) through the recently approved Critical Raw Materials Act, which grants them faster permitting and better access to finance; furthermore, a new platform to connect supply and demand for project offtake will launch in November. The Commission is also exploring the creation of a Critical Raw Materials Centre for joint purchasing and stockpiling, working to restrict the export of scrap aluminium, and pursuing a permanent solution for steel trade defences.  

The urgency of the dialogue in Lisbon was starkly validated by events unfolding globally during the week of the forum. Just days after the event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered a keynote address at the Berlin Global Dialogue, emphasising that the world is in an era of “geoeconomics” where economic tools are being weaponised. She specifically warned of the significant risk posed by the recent tightening of Chinese export controls on rare earths and battery materials and announced the development of the new RESourceEU plan—a direct policy response aimed at securing and diversifying Europe’s critical materials supply chain.  

Mr. Joel Rui Ferrera, Secretary of State for Economy of the Portuguese Republic, delivered a keynote that set a bold tone for the Forum. emphasising the need for European industries to balance strategic autonomy with openness and cooperation in building a green economy. He invited participants to reflect on what resilience truly means for European industries and to consider the role Portugal can play in shaping a secure and responsible industrial future. 

The session From Exploration to Extraction: The New Era of Sustainable Mining in Portugal organised in partnership with the Cluster Portugal Mineral Resources, brought together senior representatives The Directorate-General for Energy and Geology of Portugal, LNEG – Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia, EDM-Empresa de Desenvolvimento Mineiro, SA as well as companies developing Coppper, Tungsten, Lithium and Feldspar mining projects. 

Dr. Jean Barroca delivered a powerful closing message that underscored Portugal’s readiness for transformation — driven by data, innovation, governance, and transparency.

He emphasised that mining must no longer be seen as exploitation, but as an enabler of the Green Transition — a sector that creates value, advances technical capabilities, and builds trust with communities through visibility, accountability, and shared benefits.