A major new initiative to build a skilled workforce for Europe’s raw materials sector has been launched to support the EU’s industrial competitiveness and green and digital transitions.
The European Raw Materials Academy (ERMAcademy) will upskill and reskill more than 100,000 professionals across Europe over the next three years.
The ERMAcademy will establish a pan-European learning ecosystem with its curriculum covering the entire raw materials value chain – from mining and recycling to advanced materials and the circular economy. It is delivered through a modular, multilingual, and certified training portfolio. Key features include vocational education and training (VET), Train-the-Trainer programmes, micro-credentials, and a labour market-oriented skills intelligence platform. The ERMAcademy supports strategic EU initiatives such as the Clean Industrial Deal and the Union of Skills, and contributes to priorities under the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Net-Zero Industry Act.
Our sovereignty depends on the raw materials that we can extract, process, and recycle ourselves, but it also depends on our own expertise and excellence in that field. The European Raw Materials Academy is a unique initiative so Europe can benefit from the most qualified workforce in raw materials. Those talents and skills will be indispensable to successfully complete our digital and green transitions. With the Critical Raw Materials Act, Europe wants to reconnect with its history as a scientific, industrial and environmental pioneer in mining and material processing
Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission
In March, Europe acted to secure and diversify access to critical raw materials. The Commission approved 47 projects, located across thirteen countries – to boost domestic capacities in the EU of materials such as lithium, cobalt and graphite. However, to realise this – we need people and workers with the right skills. The European Raw Materials Academy is a great example of what the Union of Skills means in action: it will help at least 100,000 workers across Europe with the skills they need to master the green and digital transitions. The academy will connect education, innovation, and industry to empower Europe’s workforce and address immediate labour market needs. By putting people front and centre, we strengthen Europe’s social resilience and keep it competitive
Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
The Race to 2030 demands more than ambition – it demands execution. With the launch of the European Raw Materials Academy, we are not just preparing Europe for the future – we are building it. From mining engineers to circularity strategists, this Academy empowers the talent our industries need to secure global competitiveness. At EIT RawMaterials, we are proud to lead this bold step from ambition to achievement…The ERMAcademy completes the triangle of Europe’s raw materials resilience – alongside industrial investment and innovation, we are now investing in the people who will make it happen. With over 100,000 learners, we are building not just skills, but sovereignty. EIT RawMaterials is proud to serve as the launchpad for a new generation of talent driving Europe’s green and industrial transitions.
Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director at EIT RawMaterials
The EIT RawMaterials Academy is a great example of how we can prepare people for the jobs of tomorrow by connecting education with real industry needs. If we want Europe to lead in innovation and sustainability, we must invest in the talent that will drive that change
Kyriacos Kokkinos, Member of Governing Board, European Institute of Innovation and Technology
The ERMAcademy was formally launched at the EIT RawMaterials Summit 2025 in Brussels on 14 May 2025 by Manuela Geleng, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission and Bernd Schäfer, CEO, Managing Director, EIT RawMaterials.
The Academy is led by EIT RawMaterials, one of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology’s (EIT) nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), and the community covering the entire raw materials value chain.
About EIT RawMaterials
EIT RawMaterials is the largest and most active raw materials knowledge and innovation network globally, comprising over 300 partner organisations across the entire raw materials value chain. EIT RawMaterials demonstrates its dedication to advancing and supporting a circular economy in Europe by fostering innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices. Mandated by the European Commission, EIT RawMaterials leads the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA), which includes more than 750 members and an advanced project pipeline of over 40 projects, representing an investment potential of more than €25 billion.
Since its founding, EIT RawMaterials has deployed over €600 million in direct strategic funding to support more than 800 projects and start-ups. These initiatives, including ERMA projects, have leveraged additional funding of €5 billion from external sources, creating a cumulative impact of more than €5.5 billion in critical and strategic raw materials projects, technologies, and programmes across Europe and beyond.
Supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, EIT RawMaterials was established in 2015 to advance Europe’s transition to a sustainable economy. Its mission is to secure a sustainable supply of raw materials for Europe, close material loops, and design innovative product solutions, with the goal to position raw materials as a strategic strength for Europe through innovation, education, and entrepreneurship.