Rare earths are essential to the manufacture of many cutting-edge technologies. In a context of energy transition and increasing digitalisation of economies, they therefore occupy a strategic position.
The issues of resource demand, availability and recycling possibilities have therefore become crucial for anticipating industrial vulnerabilities and securing supply chains.
A day organised around three main themes
The SIM Technical Day on 3 February 2026 will focus on three main themes.
French needs and global demand for rare earths
The morning will begin with an overview of current and future needs for rare earths, particularly for the energy transition. The speakers will present consumption projections and various scenarios for the development of demand on a global scale.
Primary and secondary resources
The second theme will focus on available resources, whether primary or secondary. There will be a particular focus on Europe and Greenland, areas of growing interest in a sensitive geopolitical context.
Recycling processes
The final part will focus on recycling processes, with a presentation of the main ways of extracting rare earths from end-of-life materials and the technological innovations currently under development.
BRGM at the SIM technical day
BRGM teams will be participating on 3 February 2026 in the morning session on primary and secondary rare earth deposits:
- Primary rare earth resources in Europe and Greenland, by Gaetan Lefèbvre
- Evaluation of the secondary deposit of permanent magnets for wind turbines in Europe, by Audrey Philippe
