Australian Embassy
The Netherlands

News and Events

News and Events

 

Webinar: Dutch-Australian Partnership Opportunities for Critical Raw Materials in Australia

Are you an Australian company active in critical raw materials (CRM)? And are you interested in partnering with Dutch companies, technology providers or investors? Then this webinar is for you.

This session will outline partnership and collaboration opportunities across Australia’s critical raw materials value chain, including exploration, processing, technology and downstream applications. You will also gain insights into current projects and how Australian companies can engage with Dutch and European partners.

 

Register by email by 5 May 2026

 

Date: Thursday 7 May

Time: 17:30 – 18:30 AEST (09:30 - 10:30 CEST)

Location: Online

 

Participation

Registration deadline: 5 May 2026

Cost: Participation is free of charge

Language: English

Organisers:

  • Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Australian Embassy in The Netherland

 

Who is it for?

This webinar is for Dutch and Australian companies active in the critical raw materials sector.

 

Why take part?

There are growing and concrete opportunities for Australian companies to collaborate with Dutch businesses and knowledge institutions across the entire CRM value chain.

The Netherlands is a key gateway to the European market, with advanced capabilities in:

  • Resource-efficient processing and refining
  • Circular economy solutions
  • Battery technologies and advanced manufacturing
  • Infrastructure, logistics and port-based value chains

By taking part in this webinar, you will learn more about:

  • Dutch and EU demand for critical raw materials
  • Areas where Australian projects align with Dutch technology and expertise
  • Current and upcoming projects seeking international collaboration

 

Why the Netherlands and the EU?

The European Union and Australia have entered into a strategic partnership on critical raw materials, aimed at building secure, sustainable and geopolitically reliable supply chains.

For Australian companies, this partnership:

  • Creates new collaboration and investment opportunities with European partners
  • Strengthens access to EU markets and value chains
  • Supports long-term offtake, technology exchange and joint development

Australia and the Netherlands also enjoy a strong bilateral economic relationship. Two-way trade exceeded AUD 3.5 billion in 2024, with established cooperation in energy, innovation and advanced industries.

 

The new free trade agreement

The forthcoming EU–Australia Free Trade Agreement will:

  • Improve access to the EU market
  • Reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers
  • Encourage two-way investment
  • Facilitate collaboration on strategic raw materials and clean technologies

This creates new pathways for Australian CRM companies to work with Dutch partners and access European projects and customers.

 

Market report “Critical Raw Materials in Australia”

Market report: Critical Raw Materials in Australia

Global demand for critical raw materials is growing rapidly, and Australia is central to meeting that demand.

The new market report “Critical Raw Materials in Australia”:

  • Analyses the entire value chain, from upstream extraction to downstream processing
  • Identifies concrete collaboration opportunities for Australian and Dutch companies
  • Explores how technology, services and knowledge exchange can accelerate projects

Key findings and priority opportunities from the report will be presented during this webinar.

 

Programme

  • Opening remarks, by Dr Greg French, Australian Ambassador  to The Netherlands
  • Scope and objectives of the project, by Eva from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Free Trade Agreement, business context and overview of the CRM sector, by Hugo Klijn, Dutch Consulate-General in Australia
  • Australian critical raw materials value chain and priority metals, by Ryan Hanrahan, CEO of Wave International
  • Specific opportunities, by Ryan Hanrahan, CEO of Wave International
  • Recommended projects, by Wave International
  • Conclusions of the market study: Netherlands-Australia cooperation on critical raw materials, by Ryan Hanrahan, CEO of Wave International
  • Q&A, by Nathan de Bruijn, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
  • Closing remarks, by Dr Greg French, Australian Ambassador  to The Netherlands

 

Participation and costs

Participation in this webinar is free of charge. Registration is required. Register your attendance by email sharing your name, company or organisation name and your job title. We will then send you the link to join the webinar online. Registrations close 5 May 2026.

 

Organisation

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) is organising this webinar in collaboration with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Australian Embassy in The Netherlands.

 

Want to know more?

RVO is happy to help. For questions about this webinar, please contact:

Thomas van Vliet, Sector Account Manager for critical raw materials at RVO

E: [email protected]