CRM Arena

The CRM Arena is an umbrella function within CAMM-CRM, designed to strengthen collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic development across the critical raw materials value chain.

Its purpose is to support a more holistic understanding of specific critical raw materials by bringing together expertise from different disciplines, including geology, processing, recycling, economics, policy, and social sciences. Through this approach, the CRM Arena helps identify emerging challenges, connect research areas, and support strategic collaborations with internal and external partners.

The CRM Arena works in close collaboration with CAMM-SFO and SUN – Natural Resources for Sustainability Transitions, LTU’s multidisciplinary research initiative focused on sustainable use of natural resources.

Rather than taking on administrative or management responsibilities, the CRM Arena focuses on added-value activities such as cross-disciplinary synthesis, strategic scoping, and structured engagement with relevant national and international initiatives.

Key activities

The CRM Arena supports CAMM-CRM by:

• forming and participating in multidisciplinary working groups focused on critical raw materials value chains;
• bringing together expertise on technology, economics, policy, legislation, and societal aspects connected to critical raw materials;
• exploring opportunities for joint internal calls for CRM-related research projects together with SUN and CAMM-SFO;
• organizing an annual critical raw materials conference in Luleå;
• identifying emerging research themes that do not yet fit within existing Research Pillars.

Exploring future research directions

The CRM Arena also provides space for broad, cross-cutting, and emerging topics where critical raw materials relevance is still developing. These activities help identify new research questions, build connections across disciplines, and explore themes across the full value chain – from geology and processing to recycling, policy, and society.

Over time, this work may lead to new topics being incorporated into existing Research Pillars or to the development of future Research Pillars within CAMM-CRM.

Through the CRM Arena, CAMM-CRM aims to strengthen its ability to respond to complex challenges, support strategic collaboration, and contribute to the sustainable development of critical raw materials research.