EIT RawMaterials

What EIT RawMaterials does

EIT RawMaterials GmbH is an EU-funded knowledge and innovation community, legally domiciled in Berlin, Germany, that operates as the largest global raw materials innovation network with 300+ partners across academia, industry, and research institutions. Mandated by the European Commission in September 2020 to manage the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) — an alliance of 150+ industrial and non-industrial stakeholders — the organisation coordinates Europe's critical raw materials strategy across mining, processing, recycling, and substitution. Its core technology is a platform architecture rather than a single product: it channels Horizon Europe programme funding through competitive KAVA (Knowledge and Innovation Activities) calls, operates structured Open Innovation Challenges that match corporates with startups, runs two education academies (European Raw Materials Academy, European Advanced Materials Academy), and hosts the annual EIT RawMaterials Summit in Brussels.

The business model is publicly funded rather than commercially priced. Revenue derives from multi-year Horizon Europe grants via the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) rather than customer-facing pricing. EIT RawMaterials functions as both an investor — deploying €200M+ into 600+ startups and supporting 250+ products to market — and a strategic advisor to high-impact projects aligned with EU green-transition objectives. Customer segments span startups and SMEs, mining/processing/recycling corporates, students and professionals, corporate innovation buyers, and European industrial ecosystems (automotive, energy, defense, high-tech). Distribution occurs through KAVA calls, Open Innovation Challenge programmes, ERMA membership and the Raw Materials Investment Platform, direct strategic advisory engagements, and flagship events. Notable technical initiatives include a hybrid physics-based and AI-enabled mine road infrastructure maintenance framework with KGHM Cuprum Ltd. and the development of European price benchmarks for critical minerals with Metalshub.

Name

EIT RawMaterials

Legal name

EIT RawMaterials GmbH

Website

https://eitrawmaterials.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

EIT RawMaterials GmbH is an EU-mandated innovation network that connects 300+ partners across research, industry, and startups to secure Europe's critical raw materials supply chain via Horizon Europe funding, strategic advisory, and education programmes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Raw Materials Innovation Network

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Action & Explosive Ordnance Risk Reduction (EOD/ERW) (BPADAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

E-Waste & Electronics Metal Recovery (ITAD, Circuit Boards, Precious Metal Recovery) (IMAKAMAG)

Keywords

• Raw materials innovation
• Critical minerals funding
• EU Horizon Europe grants
• Mining technology network
• Circular economy advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Denver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. EU Horizon Europe Funding: EIT RawMaterials operates as an EU-funded body under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), delivering funding via open calls, grants, and project-based initiatives under the Horizon Europe programme to strengthen critical raw materials supply chains.
2. Strategic Advisory Services: Providing strategic advice to high-impact projects supporting EU green energy transition objectives. Services aligned with EU policy objectives to build project investment cases.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

EIT RawMaterials is an EU-funded knowledge and innovation community that connects research institutions, industry partners, and startups across the raw materials value chain. It delivers funding and strategic advisory services via programs such as the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA), KAVA innovation calls, and Open Innovation Challenges, and operates education academies for workforce development in mining, processing, recycling, and substitution of raw materials.

Product overview

EIT RawMaterials is a platform organization that connects Europe's knowledge and innovation community in the raw materials sector. Rather than a single product, it offers a multi-faceted portfolio including ERMA (European Raw Materials Alliance) for industry coordination, investment and funding services for startups and scale-ups, Open Innovation Challenge programs for corporate innovation, educational academies (European Raw Materials Academy, European Advanced Materials Academy), and the EIT RawMaterials Summit as a flagship annual event. The organization facilitates access to finance, supports business creation, and upskills talent across the raw materials value chain through various programs including KAVA funding calls and EIT Jumpstarter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ERMA - European Raw Materials Alliance: An industry-driven alliance established by the European Commission to support critical and strategic raw materials supply chains for Europe, managed by EIT RawMaterials.
• KAVA Calls

Products and services

• European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA) Industry-driven alliance established by the European Commission to support critical and strategic raw materials supply chains for Europe, bringing together industrial actors to diversify supply, create jobs, and attract investments.
• Start-Up to Scale-Up Investments

Quantifiable outcome

• 260+ Products & Services brought to market
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Kazakhstan Ministry of Industry and ConstructionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026EIT RawMaterials is involved in agreements covering sulfuric acid plant feasibility studies and specialist training programs in Kazakhstan as part of EU-Kazakhstan industrial cooperation, aimed at expanding domestic industrial production and technology transfer capabilities.
• EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026MOU between Kazakhstan's Ministry of Industry and Construction and EBRD to develop a minerals and metals Center of Excellence, with EIT RawMaterials involved in related industrial cooperation agreements.
• Dewulf NVminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Belgian agricultural machinery manufacturer Dewulf NV partnered in a €500 million cooperation with Kazakhstan for localization of production, with EIT RawMaterials involved in related industrial cooperation framework.
• Väderstad GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2026Swedish firm Väderstad Group partnered in €500 million cooperation with Kazakhstan for localization of production, with EIT RawMaterials involved in related industrial cooperation framework.
• MetalshubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2026EIT RawMaterials is working with Metalshub, a metals sourcing platform, to develop European price benchmarks for critical minerals. The initiative aims to create transparency in opaque markets, enable off-take agreements, and spur investment into European mining and refining projects that have struggled to raise financing.
• GTK MinteccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026GTK Mintec partnered with Greenland Mines to conduct mineralogical, metallurgical, and processing-flow programs for the Skaergaard project as part of the broader vision to develop a North Atlantic critical-minerals corridor linking Greenland, Iceland, North America and Europe.
• Greenland Mines LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Greenland Mines Ltd and its 80%-owned subsidiary Major Precious Greenland A/S became members of the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA). The membership positions the Skaergaard Gold, Palladium, Platinum and Critical Metals Project within European critical raw materials discussions and provides access to strategic partnerships, offtake frameworks, and co-investment opportunities through ERMA's network of industrial users across automotive, energy, defense, and high-tech manufacturing.
• KGHM Cuprum Ltd.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 April 2026Researchers from KGHM Cuprum Ltd. and EIT RawMaterials GmbH developed a hybrid physics-based and AI-enabled framework using low-cost IMU sensors for underground mine haul road maintenance assessment, validated at the Olympias Mine in Northern Greece.
• Leading Edge MaterialscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2025Leading Edge Materials was accepted as a project partner by EIT RawMaterials to contribute to Europe's raw materials ecosystem. The company is engaged in critical raw material projects in Europe and views this partnership as a strategic step forward.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Society: Germany's largest applied research organisation with 75+ institutes, comparable in mission (bridging research and industry commercialisation) and scale (thousands of employees across multiple domains). Functions as a broader incumbent in the European applied innovation ecosystem.
• European Innovation Council (EIC): Larger EU funding body under Horizon Europe distributing grants and equity to deep-tech and scaling startups. Overlaps with EIT RawMaterials on startup investment and innovation funding but operates more broadly across all sectors with substantially larger budgets.
• Catapult Network: UK network of not-for-profit technology and innovation centres connecting businesses with research expertise. Comparable in operating model (network of centres, business-led innovation challenges) but serving UK rather than EU ecosystem.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's national applied research organisation with strong activity in critical raw materials and bioeconomy. Comparable as a state-funded research-to-commercialisation bridge, though VTT operates owned labs rather than a partner network model.

Direct peers

• EIT Manufacturing: EIT KIC focused on manufacturing innovation with the same EU programme funding structure, KAVA call mechanism, and innovation challenge programmes. Direct structural peer operating the same playbook in an adjacent industrial vertical.
• EIT InnoEnergy: Sister EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community focused on sustainable energy; manages the European Battery Alliance and shares EIT RawMaterials' model of combining EU programme funding, startup investment, and education programmes. Most directly comparable peer given overlapping raw materials/battery materials mandate.
• EIT Climate-KIC: Another EIT KIC operating the same public-private innovation community model, funding climate solutions through KAVA calls, accelerator programmes, and Master's programmes. Comparable in mandate, funding mechanism, and governance structure to EIT RawMaterials.
• European Battery Alliance (EBA): EU policy-driven industry alliance managed by EIT InnoEnergy to build a European battery value chain. Directly comparable to ERMA in structure (industry alliance, EU mandate, value chain coordination), focused on batteries rather than broader raw materials.

Regional players

• Eurometaux: European non-ferrous metals industry association representing producers, refiners, and recyclers. Adjacent peer as a Brussels-based industry convening body serving the same metals and mining value chain stakeholders EIT RawMaterials engages.

Emerging players

• Circular Innovation Fund: Pan-European venture fund backed by EIT RawMaterials, Invest-NL, and CDP Venture Capital focused on circular economy startups. Co-investor in EIT RawMaterials' portfolio companies (e.g., Nanomox), making it a closely allied but distinct emerging player in the same ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EITRawMaterials
• Facebookfacebook.com/EITRawMaterials
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eit-raw-materials
• Instagraminstagram.com/eitrawmaterials
• Xx.com/eitrawmaterials

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments18 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EIT RawMaterials