Welcome to the International Raw Materials Observatory, a non-profit international association dedicated to fostering global collaboration in mineral raw materials’ research and innovation.
We provide information about best international practices, latest economic research, advanced data analytics and scenario studies, to inform strategic raw materials strategies and contribute to the sustainable development of the raw materials sector.
Our Focus Areas
Research & Innovation: We facilitate worldwide cooperation on cutting-edge research and innovation in the field of mineral raw materials.
Education & Outreach: The Observatory is committed to promoting knowledge exchange and outreach activities to enhance awareness and understanding of critical raw materials.
Industry & Trade: We actively engage in dialogues and independent expert analyses to advance industry practices, trade relations, and market dynamics in the mineral raw materials sector.
Recycling, Management & Substitution: With a focus on sustainability, we advocate responsible recycling practices and explore strategies for effective management and substitution of strategic raw materials.
Our services
Reports & Factsheets
on mineral raw materials
A World Barometer
providing periodic reports on opportunities and threats relating to mineral raw materials provision
A Data Repository
offering members access to background information relevant for the raw materials sector
Foresight studies
on sector trends
A platform for dialogues
on mineral raw materials thanks to exclusive high-level summits involving representatives of international intergovernmental organisations
Tools for Advancement
Diplomacy, dialogues, independent expert analysis, and foresight serve as our primary tools to drive international cooperation, informed policy-making, and improved governance of mineral raw materials.
Our Core Values
The set of values of the International Raw Materials Observatory is built around the concept of an honest broker – acting as an impartial international mediator specialised in the minerals value-webs to support the exchange of best practices and cooperative solutions to shared challenges.
Join us in our mission to shape a sustainable future through responsible management of mineral raw materials. Together, we can build a global community committed to advancing best practices, fostering innovation, and securing the availability of raw materials for generations to come.
Noticeboard
Brussels, 23 November 2023 Responsible Sourcing and Traceability of minerals are pillars of Europe’s energy transition. EU Raw Materials Week, Brussels — As a satellite...
The International Raw Materials Observatory is joining forces with the European Federation of Geologists (EFG) and the Initiative on Forensic Geology (IFG), an...
We were pleased to welcome a highly motivated group of experts keen to review our scenarios on the state of mineral raw materials provision in 2050. Those three...
INTRAW, in collaboration with the UNECE, PERC and the European Federation of Geologists recently organised an Expert roundtable on the use of CRIRSCO...
The 2022 edition of the EU Raw Materials Week offered the opportunity to network with policymakers and industry representatives from all over Europe and overseas. It...
The Horizon Europe-funded CRM-geothermal project is developing an innovative technology solution which combines the extraction of critical raw materials and energy from...
In summer 2022, the Official Spanish Association of Professional Geologists (ICOG) joined the Observatory as a new member. The ICOG was established in 1978. Its basic...
The Observatory again teamed up with EIT RawMaterials as a media partner of RACE 2022. On this occasion, INTRAW Secretary-General Vitor Correia delivered a talk in...
The project “Building EU-Africa partnerships on sustainable raw materials value chain”, in short AfricaMaVal, is a project funded by the European Commission that...