INNOPROM-2026 continued the dialogue initiated at the RAREMET-2026 Congress: "Giredmet" presented approaches to creating closed technological chains of rare earth metals

In Yekaterinburg, as part of the business program of the "INNOPROM-2026" International Industrial Exhibition, a panel session "Rare Earth Metals – Sparks of the future for Industry" was held, organized by the Mendeleev Valley Foundation, a co-organizer of the RAREMET-2026 Congress. The event was a logical continuation of the dialogue that began at the RAREMET-2026 site in Moscow, where the formation of complete technological chains in the rare earth industry has become one of the key issues.

The discussion was moderated by Mikhail Yurin, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. The speakers were Ksenia Shoigu, General Director of the Mendeleev Valley Innovative Science and Technology Center Development Fund, Andrey Andrianov, General Director of Rosatom MetalTech, Elena Bezdenezhnykh, Vice President of RUSAL, Ruslan Dimukhamedov, General Director of the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant, Andrey Nechaev, General Director of the Rusredmet Group of Companies, and Denis Khleborodov, General Director of CloudX.

Giredmet JSC, the organizer of the RAREMET Congress and the main institute in the field of rare metals technologies, was represented by Konstantin Ivanovskikh, Deputy Director for Science and Innovation. In his report "Rare Earth metals in a closed-loop economy", he presented approaches to the development of the industry in the face of growing demand from high-tech sectors such as nuclear energy, electronics, photonics, electric mobility and the production of magnetic materials.

Special attention was paid to the transition from a raw material model to an integrated value chain: from mineral raw materials and concentrates to separated oxides, metals, alloys, powders and functional materials. Using the example of Giredmet's experience, scientific and technical solutions for processing raw materials, extracting valuable components from waste and creating high-grade materials developed in the paradigm of sustainable technological development were presented. These topics became central within the framework of RAREMET-2026, where ways to build complete production and technological chains were discussed, from mineral resources to high-tech products.

"In order to develop the rare earth industry, it is important to not just extract raw materials, but to assemble a closed technological chain – from concentrate to materials and components in demand by the high-tech industry, to technologies for their processing and the return of critical metals to production cycles. It is at the junction of chemical technology, metallurgy, materials science and industrial cooperation that real added value is formed," Konstantin Ivanovskikh noted.

Following the discussion, the participants noted the importance of cooperation between mining, processing, chemical, scientific and technological organizations, as well as the need to involve end-industrial customers in creating demand for rare earth products. For Giredmet JSC, this agenda is one of the key areas of scientific and technological development and international cooperation, which will be developed at the next RAREMET-2027 Congress, which will be held in India.

For reference:

The N. P. Sazhin State Scientific Research and Design Institute of the Rare Metal Industry Giredmet is one of the leading scientific research organizations of the materials science profile of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. The Institute was founded in 1931. It covers a full cycle: from the development of methods for processing ores containing rare and rare earth metals to the production of high-purity substances, single crystals and finished products for the electronic, nuclear, aviation, and space industries. The Institute has dozens of designed and built industrial plants in the territory.

The N. P. Sazhin State Scientific Research and Design Institute of the Rare Metal Industry Giredmet is one of the leading scientific research organizations of the materials science profile of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. The Institute was founded in 1931. It covers a full cycle: from the development of methods for processing ores containing rare and rare earth metals to the production of high-purity substances, single crystals and finished products for the electronic, nuclear, aviation, and space industries. The Institute has dozens of designed and built industrial plants in the countries of the former USSR, Russia and abroad. Giredmet JSC is a member of the Chemical Technology Cluster (CTC) of the Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation. The CTC is a system-building structure aimed at stimulating innovation and supporting scientific and technological progress in the nuclear and related sectors of the Russian industry. The CTC's activities cover a wide range of tasks related to the development, production and implementation of new materials, composites, pure substances, as well as rare and rare-earth metals. As part of this mission, the CTC performs the function of an integrator of scientific research, applied research and industrial production, which allows it to ensure a high degree of synergy between the various stages of the scientific and technological cycle.