Prof. Simona Iammarino (University of Cagliari, London School of Economics and Political Science)

Simona Iammarino is Professor of Applied Economics at the Department of Economics & Business of the University of Cagliari, and affiliated to the CRENoS; Visiting Professor at the Department of Geography & Environment of the London School of Economics (LSE), and member of the Board of the LSE-Cañada Blanch Centre; Visiting Professor at the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) L’Aquila, Italy. She was Professor of Economic Geography at the LSE (2009-2022), where she acted as Head of Department (2014-2017) and academic member of the LSE Council (2016-2020).
Simona’s main research interests lie in the following areas: Multinational corporations, globalisation and local economic development; Economic geography of innovation and technological change; Regional and local economic development and policy. She has published more than 70 articles in major peer-reviewed journals, two co-authored books, around 30 book chapters, and numerous working papers, policy reports and other publications.
She is co-editor of the Journal of Economic Geography, member of the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Executive Group and Board and Chair of the RSA Journal Committee. She has a long-term experience in externally funded international research projects, and in consultancy projects for various international organisations (e.g. EU Commission, OECD, United Nations, ADB, etc.) and numerous government agencies.
In 2024 Simona was awarded the “ERSA European Prize in Regional Science”, arguably the highest prize in regional sciences, and the “Giacomo Becattini” Prize, Italian Society of Economics and Industrial Policy (SIEPI).

Tytuł wystąpienia/ Speech title:

Critical Raw Materials in the European Regions. Open Strategic Autonomy, technological transitions and policy challenges

Abstract:

Under the ongoing technological paradigm shift, critical natural resources and materials have become essential for emerging industries and innovation frontiers. Current disruptions in global supply chains – due to geopolitical conflicts, trade wars, political instability, etc. – have affected the availability of critical raw materials (CRMs), raising concerns about supply stability and calls for domestic production as a viable alternative. Recent EU initiatives, such as the Open Strategic Autonomy (OSA) and the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), represent strategies to secure a stable supply of such critical and strategic materials. However, such strategies may be over-reliant on domestic potential, applying a macro- and sector-driven approach that risks falling short in addressing key constraints, including local-level implications, limited and uncertain reserves, and insufficient technological and industrial capabilities of the regions concerned.