The International Conference on Critical Minerals will bring together senior government representatives, industry leaders, financial institutions, researchers, technology organisations and international partners to explore pathways towards secure, sustainable and competitive critical-mineral supply chains.
Jointly organised by the Government of Gujarat and the British High Commission in India, the conference will be supported by Gujarat Mineral Development Corporation (GMDC), the International Centre of Excellence in Mining Safety and Automation (iCEM), and the University of Cambridge.
The conference will position Gujarat as an emerging hub for critical-mineral innovation, investment, processing and industrial development, while fostering international partnerships across the critical minerals value chain.
“Critical minerals – competing in concentrated global markets.”
Critical minerals have become the foundation of key industries like Permanent Magnets, EVs, Energy Transition, Defence, AI, and others.At present, global processing and downstream manufacturing remain highly concentrated, creating significant geopolitical, economic, and supply chain vulnerabilities.Many countries have individually explored solutions across exploration, mining, processing, refining, recycling, financing, technology development, and downstream manufacturing.
However, these efforts remain fragmented. The next phase requires trusted international collaboration involving governments, industry, academia, technology providers, and financial institutions to establish a resilient, diversified, and fault-tolerant global supply chain.India, and particularly Gujarat, is well positioned to play a leadership role in this transition.
Explore competitive alternatives to highly concentrated global critical-mineral supply chains.
Identify opportunities for cooperation across mining, processing, recycling, research and manufacturing.
Examine financing mechanisms, private investment and procurement commitments that can support commercially viable projects.
Explore the role of artificial intelligence, data platforms, observatories and supply-chain monitoring.
Examine resilient supply chains for defence, aerospace, clean energy and advanced manufacturing.
Develop practical recommendations, partnerships and follow-up initiatives for government and industry.
Explore how emerging critical-mineral ecosystems can compete through technology development, infrastructure, industrial policy, skills and international partnerships.
Examine approaches to strengthening critical-mineral supply chains serving defence, aerospace, energy and advanced manufacturing against geopolitical and operational disruptions.
Discuss public and development finance, private investment, blended-finance mechanisms and long-term procurement commitments to reduce project risks and enable scale-up.
Explore critical-mineral observatories, satellite monitoring, artificial intelligence, trade-flow analysis, traceability and digital supply-chain modelling to support informed decisions.
Identify opportunities for joint research, technology transfer, responsible mining, skills development, processing capabilities, investment and market creation.
Thursday, 19 November 2026
Facility visit – iCEM Campus visit
Inaugural Session and Plenary Programme.
iCEM/GMDC's Rare Earths Observatory launch and Live Demonstration.
Networking dinner.
Friday, 20 November 2026
Fault Tolerant Critical Mineral Supply Chain for Defence & Strategic Sectors
Fault Tolerant Critical Mineral Supply Chain for Defence & Strategic Sectors
Purpose Specific Finance for Risk Mitigation
Purpose Specific Finance for Risk Mitigation
International Collaboration for Resilience - the contours
International Collaboration for Resilience - the contours
Summation of the Roundtable conference
A proposed presentation on GMDC, iCEM and the University of Cambridge partnership, with opportunities in research, technology and supply-chain intelligence.
A proposed announcement concerning the establishment of India's first Rare Earth Elements Observatory campus in Gujarat.
Explore data platforms, artificial intelligence, monitoring technologies and supply-chain stress testing for better decision-making.
Government ministries, departments and policymakers.
Mining companies, mineral processors and downstream manufacturers.
Critical-mineral technology providers and industrial enterprises.
Investors, financial institutions and development-finance organisations.
Universities, research institutions and academic experts.
International organisations and strategic supply-chain partners..
Direct engagement with senior government and industry stakeholders from India, the UK and Gujarat.
Insights into emerging policies, projects, technologies and investment opportunities.
Opportunities to identify research, technology development and commercial partners.
Exposure to Gujarat’s mining, processing, manufacturing and rare-earth ecosystem.
Demonstrations of advanced supply-chain mapping, monitoring and stress-testing capabilities.
Opportunities to contribute to practical recommendations and future collaborative initiatives.
A shared understanding of priority challenges and opportunities in critical-mineral cooperation.
Practical recommendations for government, industry, finance and research institutions.
A clearer roadmap for UK–India and Gujarat-focused collaboration.
Potential partnerships and investment opportunities across the critical-minerals value chain.
A framework for advancing the proposed Gujarat Rare Earth Elements Observatory, subject to approvals.
A post-conference report documenting discussions, recommendations and proposed next steps.
Be part of an international dialogue shaping the future of critical-mineral supply chains. Engage with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, technology providers and investors to explore opportunities for collaboration, innovation and sustainable industrial development.