OFREMI is a multidisciplinary workforce spread over six partner institutions, public authorities, and major industrial sectors.
The energy transition and decarbonization of our economy require mastering the value chain of certain critical metals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, titanium, and rare earth elements. These metals are essential for manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, wind turbine generators, and smart grids. Supporting both public authorities and industry, this observatory brings together the expertise of key French specialists in the field: BRGM, CEA, IFPEN, ADEME, IFRI, and CNAM.
This economic intelligence unit serves as a platform for exchanges between experts, industries, and government agencies, aiming to provide shared strategic, economic, and technical monitoring of global supply chains and the current and future needs of industrial sectors, while producing risk and vulnerability analyses.
ADEME : The French Agency for Ecological Transition supports the implementation of public policies in environmental, energy, and sustainable development fields. It offers expertise and advice to companies, local authorities, public bodies, and the general public to help them progress in their environmental efforts. ADEME also provides project funding and conducts research in areas such as waste management, soil preservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy, resource conservation, and the transition to a circular economy. Within OFREMI, ADEME primarily contributes to identify potential secondary resources, ensuring the supply of strategic metals.
BRGM : The French Geological Survey, BRGM, is the national public institution responsible for Earth science applications to manage soil and subsoil resources and risks. BRGM's work focuses on scientific research, support for public policies, and international cooperation. Its mission addresses key societal challenges, particularly those related to climate change, energy transition, and the development of a circular economy. BRGM's expertise in geosciences contributes to the sustainable management of soil and subsoil resources in urban and rural areas. Its activities are structured around six major societal issues: geology and subsurface knowledge, groundwater management, risk analysis and land use planning, mineral resources and the circular economy, energy transition and subsurface use, and digital data services and infrastructures. BRGM is the main coordinator of the OFREMI project.
CEA : The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in scientific and technological research. It provides practical solutions to meet needs in four major areas: low-carbon energy (nuclear and renewable), digital technology, future medical technologies, and defense and security. The CEA also aims at sharing the results of its research to industries, supporting their competitiveness, fostering job creation, and contributing to France's industrial sovereignty. Within OFREMI, the CEA supports its partners on technological issues and develops analytical methods to secure supplies throughout the value chains.
IFRI : The French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) is an independent research and debate institute dedicated to the analysis of international and global governance issues. Its mission is to shed light on and contextualize major international events, targeting political and economic decision-makers, academic communities, opinion leaders, and civil society representatives. IFRI focuses on analyzing and forecasting European and international affairs through a multidisciplinary approach that combines local, national, and global levels. IFRI brings an international perspective and geopolitical expertise to help better frame the analysis conducted by other OFREMI members ;
IFPEN : The French Institute of Petroleum and New Energies (IFPEN) is a key player in research and training in the fields of energy, transport, and the environment. From research to industry, technological innovation is at the heart of all its activities. Its areas of expertise are diverse, aiming to provide solutions to societal challenges in energy and climate, promote the transition to sustainable mobility, and support the development of a more diversified energy mix. As part of its public-interest mission entrusted by the government, IFPEN focuses on creating wealth and jobs by supporting economic activity in France and Europe, and on enhancing the competitiveness of related industrial sectors. Within OFREMI, IFPEN’s actions are particularly focused on predicting various scenarios in response to the increasing demand for minerals and metals driven by the energy and ecological transitions.