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Launch of the India-Europe Resilience Forum (IERF) - First Roundtable on Critical Raw Materials

The Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) in collaboration with the Centre for Social Research (CSR) and the Centre for Educational & Social Studies (CESS)/Chanakya University (CU) and with the support of Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) India, are pleased to announce the launch of the India-Europe Resilience Forum (IERF).

Positioned as a 1.5-track policy and expert forum, it bridges policymakers, think tanks, civil society including private sector representatives, and academia to enhance cooperation on critical issues such as geoeconomics, supply chain resilience, climate adaptation, sustainability, technology, and inclusive development. Given the increasing geopolitical uncertainties and resource dependencies shaping global affairs, the IERF comes at a crucial time and contributes to strengthening strategic ties by fostering dialogue, policy coordination, and collaborative solutions between India and Europe. While the IERF focuses on critical thematic areas within EU-India relations, it also extends its scope to encompass broader European-South Asian relations, reinforcing resilience and partnership beyond bilateral engagement.

The first closed-door IERF roundtable organised by IPCS on the topic of critical raw materials (CRM) was held on 28th of March in New Delhi and brought together policy experts, academics, and industry experts from both regions to explore solutions for enhancing resilience in CRM supply chains. With the rapid expansion of Industry 4.0, critical raw materials (CRM)—vital for sectors such as renewable energy, electronics, defense, and mobility—have become a key area of concern for both India and the European Union (EU).

Within the framework of comprehensive and multi-level partnership between the EU and India, underpinned by shared values and commitment to addressing global issues such as climate action, global health, security and digital transformation, the interactive discussions aimed to highlight shared challenges and identify opportunities for strategic and economic collaboration. Panelists examined policy gaps, strategic dependencies, and regulatory frameworks to enhance resilience. Additionally, trade and investment barriers were analyzed to develop concrete recommendations for strengthening supply chain resilience.

In addition to thematic policy roundtables, the IERF includes an annual summer academy hosted by the Centre for Educational & Social Studies (CESS)/Chanakya University (CU) in Bangalore.