Med-Or Engagement in Support of a National Strategy on Critical Raw Materials

Starting from July 2025, the Med-Or Italian Foundation collaborates closely with the Task Force for the Implementation of the Mattei Plan and the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT), contributing to the development of a national strategy on critical raw materials (CRM) within Italy’s new policy framework and instruments.

CRM are essential resources for the development of technologies linked to the energy and digital transition, and the defense sector. At present, supply chains for these materials are highly concentrated in a limited number of countries, which makes national industrial supply chains particularly fragile and vulnerable. Therefore, ensuring the security of supplies through industrial policies aimed at diversifying sources - including those from African countries - has become a strategic priority for the national system.

In continuity with Italy’s financial engagement in the Lobito Corridor and the guiding principles of the Mattei Plan for Africa, two recent initiatives are also particularly significant in advancing Italy’s CRM agenda, namely the EU’s 2024 Critical Raw Materials Act - which establishes a modern and forward-looking regulatory framework - and the Made in Italy Fund - with a total allocation of €900 million, designed to support equity investments in critical mineral projects involving Italian companies.

In line with its mission of fostering public-private industrial partnerships in Africa, the Med-Or Italian Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) in July 2025 to support cooperation and coordination on strategic initiatives related to critical raw materials in Africa.

Beyond national borders, Med-Or has been engaging with relevant African countries from the perspective of mineral resources. Particular attention has been devoted to Zambia, which holds a strategic position on the African continent thanks to the presence of major national companies operating in the production of copper, nickel, cobalt, and manganese. In light of the strengthening of Italy’s bilateral relations with Zambia, delegation from the Med-Or Italian Foundation participated both in the Insaka Forum and the EU-Zambia Lobito Business Forum in October 2025, to engage with Zambian partners and explore strategic partnerships also in the context of the Global Gateway and The Lobito Corridor.

In December 2025, Med-Or and the Task Force for the Implementation of the Mattei Plan organised the first meeting in Rome to initiate a structured Italian-African engagement process on “The Lobito Corridor: an Italian Strategy for Critical Raw Materials. Focus Zambia”. The primary goal was involving key Italian institutions, national industrial stakeholders, and major Zambian officials and companies in a strategic exchange to examine potential joint initiatives. 

A delegation from the Med-Or Italian Foundation also attended the Indaba Mining Forum in Cape Town in February 2026. On the sidelines of the event, a session organized by MIMIT featured the participation of Vice-Minister On. Valentino Valentini and focused on Italy-Africa partnership opportunities, as well as the related financial instruments aimed at building a strategic bridge between Europe and Africa.

Finally, Med-Or is facilitating a growing network of African and Italian universities to explore cooperation and joint research in the field of critical materials, with a focus on strengthening sustainable supply chains that minimise waste and promote informed, responsible sourcing. Through collaborative research and knowledge exchange, this partnership seeks to bridge Italy's technical expertise - spanning materials science research and industrial innovation - with Africa's unique potential and rich local knowledge in this domain.