Essen, 20 May 2026 – On 18 and 19 June 2026, the MiningForum in Berlin will bring together leading international experts and executives from industry, science, politics and the entire commodities sector. The agenda focuses on the issues that are currently crucial for business and industry in Germany and Europe: secure supply of raw materials, strategic raw materials projects, digitalisation, sustainability, ESG, risk and safety management, as well as international regulation and geopolitical resilience.
Under the motto ‘Raw Materials Momentum’, MiningForum 2026 offers a 360° view of current developments across the entire value chain in the raw materials sector, featuring over 50 specialist presentations, panel discussions and an accompanying trade exhibition. Political, industrial and financial perspectives on a secure and responsible supply of raw materials will be a key focus, alongside strategic projects for European security of supply, innovative mining technologies, digitalisation and automation, AI-supported value creation, responsible supply chains, international projects and regulations, as well as ESG-related issues.
The scope of the agenda reflects the current state of the raw materials sector, as well as the German and European economies and industries. Raw materials are essential for energy supply, infrastructure, defence, mobility and digitalisation. At the same time, geopolitical tensions, increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and the growing demand for critical raw materials are increasing the pressure on businesses, policymakers and academia to take action. The MiningForum provides an international platform for this purpose, where knowledge is pooled, perspectives are brought together and concrete solutions are discussed.
“The challenges facing the raw materials sector can only be overcome through collaboration between science, industry, politics and society. This is precisely why we need initiatives such as the MiningForum, which bring together perspectives from across the entire value chain and strengthen the exchange of ideas with a view to concrete implementation,” says Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Elisabeth Clausen, Head of the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University.
The MiningForum 2026 will also focus on the question of how the supply of critical raw materials can be made more resilient. Mineral raw materials are an indispensable foundation for industrial value creation, energy supply, mobility, defence and digitalisation. The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act clearly sets out the strategic objectives. Implementation is now key: through the expansion of national expertise and competence, a robust regulatory framework, greater planning certainty for projects, and the consistent further development of the raw materials strategy in Germany and Europe. Risk management, automation, monitoring and sustainability standards are central levers for resilient supply chains and future-proof infrastructure.
“What is important now is to implement strategically significant raw materials projects across the entire value chain at an international level, but particularly in Germany and Europe. This requires a reliable regulatory framework, sustainable partnerships and a sound technical assessment. Only in this way can dependencies be reduced and the necessary investment in Germany and Europe be mobilised,” explains Jens-Peter Lux, Managing Director of DMT GROUP.
In 2026, the MiningForum will be shaped for the first time by its strategic partnership with the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University. With renewed patronage from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and a partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the MiningForum further underlines its commitment to bringing together scientific excellence, industrial practice and international perspectives.
Further information on the MiningForum 2026 can be found here.
Press contact
Knut Hirsch / Head of Communications / DMT GROUP
E-Mail: knut.hirsch@dmt-group.com
Tel.: +49 201 172 1315
About the MiningForum
The MiningForum has been the central conference for the mining and raw materials sector in Germany for more than three decades. Every two years, it brings together around 400 international experts and managers from industry, politics, science and civil society. With over 50 specialist presentations, interactive panels, renowned speakers and a broad-based trade exhibition, the MiningForum offers a 360° view of topics along the entire value chain in the raw materials sector.
In 2026, the MiningForum will be shaped for the first time by the strategic partnership between the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University and the organiser DMT GROUP. The partnership emphasises the conference's aim of combining industry practice and applied research - for a resilient, reliable and sustainable raw materials future.
Download the press release here.