Raw Materials Information System (RMIS): 2019 roadmap & progress report : context, content & foreseen priorities

The European Commission's (EC) Raw Materials Initiative (RMI) emphasises that raw materials are essential for the sound and sustainable functioning of Europe’s industries and, in a broader context, of Europe’s economy and society. The EC is committed to promote the competitiveness of industries related to raw materials. These industries play an important role in many downstream sectors in the European Union (EU) such as construction, chemicals, automotive, aerospace, machinery, pharmacy, equipment, renewable energy devices, and defence. These sectors have a combined added-value of around EUR 1,000 billion and provide employment for some 30 million people. Securing an undistorted supply of raw materials and, in particular, Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) is thus crucial and requires a sound and continuously developed knowledge base, namely the European Union Raw Materials Knowledge Base (EURMKB), as highlighted in the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the European Innovation Partnership (EIP) on Raw Materials. In this context, and responding to a specific action of the 2015 Circular Economy Communication, the JRC is further advancing the EC's Raw Materials Information System (RMIS), which was first released in March 2015. The markedly upgraded second version (hereinafter “RMIS 2.0”, or simply “RMIS”) was announced in the 2017 JRC “RMIS Roadmap & Progress Report” and officially launched during the 2017 “Raw Materials Week”, organised by DG GROW in Brussels. RMIS 2.0 broadened goal and scope of the first version, significantly expanded the network of its knowledge providers, and responded – often in quantitative terms – to the latest policy and knowledge needs on raw materials. In particular, important thematic sections such as “raw materials’ profiles”, “country profiles”, “supply chain viewer” and “raw materials knowledge gateway” were included. Since its conception and first release in 2015, RMIS has been developed in close cooperation with DG GROW. DG GROW helps the JRC to recognise policy and knowledge needs related to raw materials, and supports the JRC in identifying how RMIS can best meet these needs. RMIS development is supported by (and should be intended as part of) a well-established and extensive network of knowledge providers in the area of raw materials, which includes – among others – EC-funded projects, European Agencies (EASME, EEA, etc.), academia, European Geological Surveys, industry and business associations. Interactions and knowledg