How can we extract and recycle raw materials in a climate-friendly and sustainable way in the future? At the 3rd Saxon Raw Materials Conference on 22 January 2026 in Freiberg, experts from science, the raw materials industry and politics will meet to debate the urgent questions of the future - including Saxony's Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter. The conference is being organised by the Technical University Bergakademie Freiberg and the Saxon State Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection. The topics range from the renaissance of mining in Saxony and new recycling processes for the coveted rare earths to hydrogen production and the use of renewable raw materials.
The Rector of TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Professor Jutta Emes, said of the organisation of the Saxon Raw Materials Conference: "Raw materials create the future, and the future of raw materials is taking place in Freiberg. I am delighted that the Saxon Raw Materials Conference organised by TU Bergakademie Freiberg and the SMWA is providing a central platform for politics, science and business in the raw materials sector. Participants will experience the current issues of modern raw materials extraction and recycling in a compact format, "in a nutshell" so to speak. With this conference, we are sending out a signal that the future of raw materials is at home in Saxony. Here at the TU Bergakademie Freiberg, the value chain from sustainable mining to the product is fully mapped - that is unique."
Economics Minister Panter: "Raw materials are currently a major issue worldwide: the USA is intervening in Venezuela and openly flirting with the annexation of Greenland, China is restricting the export of rare earths and connections to Russia are also no longer existent. Europe is in danger of being sidelined in its endeavours to secure its supply of raw materials. This is precisely why it is important that the lithium project in Zinnwald finally gets off the ground - for Europe's independence and for the security of raw materials, especially in Germany. The use and responsible handling of domestic raw and secondary raw materials are more important than ever - and that's why this 3rd Raw Materials Conference is more important than ever."
The Raw Materials Conference has been taking place for the third time since 2024. "The format has successfully established itself as a breeding ground for dialogue - on the one hand, on the issues that are currently at the top of the scientific agenda regarding the future of resource extraction. These include the production of hydrogen and the recycling of glass from car production. On the other hand, the Raw Materials Conference in Freiberg is the place where new projects are initiated," says Professor Martin Bertau, Vice-Rector for Research and Transfer at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, summarising the objectives of the one-day event.
Around 120 participants have registered for the raw materials conference, including numerous students from TU Bergakademie Freiberg, who are attending the event free of charge.
The thematic scope of the 3rd Saxon Raw Materials Conference focusses on the entire value chain. The interdisciplinary approach covers the entire field of raw material extraction: primary raw materials, renewable raw materials and secondary raw materials from recycling processes. They form the basis for all industrial manufacturing processes - from cars to laptops.
