Chem Together 20 - Critical Raw Materials: Policy and Technology
On 28 March 2025, we hosted the 20th edition of Chem Together at De Boelelaan 1111 in Amsterdam (NU Building of the Vrije Universiteit). Held as a satellite event of the Amsterdam Chemistry Innovation Day, this edition was dedicated to one of the most pressing topics in the energy transition: Critical Raw Materials (CRM).
On a clear spring morning, 81 participants — including 15 SME representatives — gathered for an intense session bridging policy, industry and innovation. With a strong focus on circularity, urban mining, and sustainable sourcing, the event brought together thought leaders, tech pioneers, and policymakers to explore how the Netherlands can lead the charge in securing and processing critical raw materials for a greener future.
KEYNOTES
The morning began with warm welcomes from the City of Amsterdam and Joop Groen (Groene Chemie Nieuwe Economie), setting the stage for a timely and collaborative session.
Lucia van Geuns (Strategic Advisor, The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies) delivered a compelling keynote that mapped the global landscape of critical raw materials (CRM). She addressed issues of resource scarcity, geopolitical dependency, and ethical dilemmas—offering a sobering yet essential perspective on Europe’s (and the Netherlands’) vulnerabilities.
Dr. Devin Boom (Senior Scientist, TNO) followed with an introduction to the Nederlands Materialen Observatorium, a national initiative to monitor CRM flows. He showcased recent advances in Li-ion battery recycling, including a promising collaboration with SusPhos to recover key metals and phosphorus.
Closing the opening series, Roeland Jan Dijkhuis (CTO and founder, DOPS) shifted focus to industrial-scale solutions. He presented their scalable thermolysis technology for extracting metals from municipal solid waste—an impressive illustration of circular chemistry in practice.
STARTUP PITCHES AND PANEL
Following a short coffee break, three ambitious companies took the stage for concise 5-minute pitches:
- Niels Wagemaker (CRITICAL)
- Bas Kil (Ore Energy)
- Dr. Steven Lans (Back to Battery)
Their work spans energy storage, rare metal recovery, and next-gen recycling — all vital for CRM innovation.
This led into a high-level panel discussion featuring:
- Irina Patrahau (HCSS)
- Xandra Weinbeck (Invest-NL)
- James Hallworth (Port of Amsterdam)
- Steven Trijsburg (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy)
Together, they explored how investment, infrastructure, and policy can support innovation in CRM. The discussion tackled concrete challenges faced by SMEs and highlighted opportunities to scale impact through public-private partnerships.
NETWORKING BORREL
Networking moments were seamlessly built into the coffee break and lunch, with personalized name badges helping to foster deeper connections. The event served not only as a platform for knowledge exchange, but also as a launchpad for future collaborations, including an upcoming HCSS study into CRM innovation, directly inspired by discussions on the day.
We’re proud to see Chem Together becoming a catalyst for real-world action at the intersection of technology, policy, and sustainability.
A heartfelt thank you to all our speakers, our engaged audience, and our partners — ChemistryNL, City of Amsterdam, and all ACN members — for powering this milestone edition. Enjoy a gallery of pictures below.
