Turkish-EU joint effort rare earth elements summit held in Turkish capital

By Zeynep Duyar

ANKARA (AA) – A rare earth elements summit was held in the Turkish capital Ankara on Wednesday for talks on industry, research, and technology.

The event saw the participation of Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, head of the EU Delegation to Türkiye, and Mehmet Fatih Kacir, the country’s industry and technology minister.

Meyer-Landrut said it is important to invest in rare earth elements in a smart, sustainable, and inclusive framework for green growth to shape a better future.

He added that EU financial assistance contributes to Türkiye’s progress for innovation and makes the country a key player in industry, as since 2007, Türkiye got approximately $842 million for funding, and that the Industry and Technology Ministry has already established several programs, which, in turn, can help support digital transformations in key sectors such as automotive, textiles, and more.

Meyer-Landrut mentioned that rare earth elements help accelerate and commercialize sustainable projects such as creative high-tech industry and tourism projects, among other things.

Kacir stressed that the Enhancing the Rare Earth Elements Research and Innovation Capacity of Türkiye project, done with European Union support, was created under the Competitive Sectors Program.

He stressed that the $15 million project is to build an e-waste recycling infrastructure, supporting the research and development facility of the university involved with the project so the country can reduce its import dependency through rare earth elements.

With a turnover of nearly $2 billion, and an export capacity of $1.5 billion, Kacir said that they will be able to produce magnets, needed by many sectors such as the wind energy industry, as Türkiye currently imports all of its magnets.

“We hope that the project will help improve the business environment, strengthening research, technological development and innovation in the interest of both Türkiye and the EU,” he added.

- Turkish-EU cooperation

The project was financed by cooperation between the EU and Türkiye and implemented under the Competitive Sectors Program of the Industry and Technology Ministry, with beneficiaries such as Türkiye’s Mineral Research and Exploration Directorate General and Munzur University Rare Earth Elements Application and Research Center.

As demand for rare earth elements-based products rise with the increased production of high-tech and renewable energy-powered products, Türkiye is boosting its research and development capacities on rare earth elements and expanding its global business networks for economic recovery and to establish a renewable rare earth elements supply chain.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim in Istanbul