Freiberger Forum Rohstoffrecht – Law, Policy and Technology of Space Mining

The Forum Rohstoffrecht / Forum for Raw Materials Law brings together experts to address mineral and resource law from international, European and German perspectives. It explores regulatory, policy, and legal challenges across the raw materials value chain, from extraction to supply security. A strong emphasis is on interdisciplinarity, integrating insights from politics, technology, and economics.

This year, it will illuminate the technical dimension of space mining from the necessary capabilities to the major hurdles involved in exploiting extraterrestrial resources. The aim is to outline realistic use cases.

At the center is the political framework, with a focus on Europe and Germany. Ongoing initiatives, funding programs, and policy strategies that shape the governance landscape for space mining and promote responsible use of extraterrestrial resources will be explored.

Finally, the international legal context is considered: existing treaties, norms, and dispute questions, and their significance for safe and peaceful space activities. Discussions will cover possible developments toward coherent international legal frameworks to foster trust and stability in future space activities.