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Mapping Critical Raw Materials in Green Technologies

Author

Listed:
  • Francesco de Cunzo
  • Davide Consoli
  • Francois Perruchas
  • Angelica Sbardella

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to elaborate an empirical analysis of the relationship between Critical Raw Materials (CRMs) and environmental technologies. Using text mining techniques to parse and analyse patent descriptions, we provide a thorough empirical exploration of (i) the dependence of green technologies on CRMs; (ii) the countries that lead the demand of CRMs; and (iii) the countries that are more exposed to global demand for CRMs. Framed in the context of recent policy debates on the viability of the green transition, our study points to criticalities associated to both the evolution of green technology and to the spatial network of demand and supply of CRMs.

Suggested Citation

  • Francesco de Cunzo & Davide Consoli & Francois Perruchas & Angelica Sbardella, 2023. "Mapping Critical Raw Materials in Green Technologies," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2322, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Dec 2023.
    • Handle: RePEc:egu:wpaper:2322
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    File URL: http://econ.geo.uu.nl/peeg/peeg2322.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sam Arts & Francesco Paolo Appio & Bart Looy, 2013. "Inventions shaping technological trajectories: do existing patent indicators provide a comprehensive picture?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 97(2), pages 397-419, November.
    2. Nicolas Berman & Mathieu Couttenier & Dominic Rohner & Mathias Thoenig, 2017. "This Mine Is Mine! How Minerals Fuel Conflicts in Africa," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(6), pages 1564-1610, June.
    3. Antoine Dechezleprêtre & Matthieu Glachant & Ivan Haščič & Nick Johnstone & Yann Ménière, 2011. "Invention and Transfer of Climate Change--Mitigation Technologies: A Global Analysis," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 5(1), pages 109-130, Winter.
    4. Andreas Diemer & Simona Iammarino & Richard Perkins & Axel Gros, 2025. "Technology, resources and geography in a paradigm shift: the case of critical and conflict materials in ICTs," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 59(1), pages 2077326-207, December.
    5. Nicoló Barbieri & François Perruchas & Davide Consoli, 2020. "Specialization, Diversification, and Environmental Technology Life Cycle," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 96(2), pages 161-186, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Manera, Maria & Fusillo, Fabrizio & Orsatti, Gianluca & Quatraro, Francesco, 2025. "Addressing the identification of Critical Raw Material Patents Using Pretrained and Large Language Models," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202505, University of Turin.
    2. Valverde-Carbonell, Jorge & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Menéndez, María de las Mercedes, 2024. "Minerals’ criticality and countries' mining competitiveness: Two faces of the same coin," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Carolina Castaldi, 2025. "Mapping innovation in space," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2505, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Feb 2025.
    4. Beatrice Negro & Giovanni Dosi & Maria Enrica Virgillito, 2024. "The hydrogen paradigms. Technologies, country patterns of specialisation and dependence," LEM Papers Series 2024/33, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.
    5. Priore, Riccardo & Compagnoni, Marco & Favot, Marinella, 2025. "Innovation in rare earths recycling: A quantitative and qualitative analysis of patent data," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    6. Lorenzo Cresti & Dario Mazzilli & Aurelio Patelli & Angelica Sbardella & Andrea Tacchella, 2025. "Vulnerabilities and capabilities in the EU Automotive industry: Leveraging Input-Output Analysis and Economic Complexity," Papers 2501.01781, arXiv.org, revised Jan 2025.

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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products

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