Strategic Minerals Hub (HME, from its Portuguese name, Hub de Minerais Estratégicos)
An independent platform to turn the minerals of the energy transition into industry, jobs and development in Brazil.
Led by Climate Ventures, the Hub brings together the private sector, governments, startups, academia, civil society and communities to develop innovation projects.
Why
Brazil holds about 15% of the world’s rare earth reserves, used in the magnets of wind turbines and electric vehicles, yet produces less than 1%. About 90% of these magnets are manufactured in China. The same story repeats with the graphite and lithium in batteries and the silicon in solar panels: the country sells lightly processed ore and buys back the finished component.
With more investment, processing and use of strategic minerals by domestic industry, Brazil could generate 750,000 jobs by 2050, 2.5 times the number projected under an export-based path.
Brazil’s new national policy on critical and strategic minerals is being regulated, and the call for proposals from Brazil’s national development bank (BNDES) and innovation agency (Finep) received BRL 85.2 billion (about USD 15.6 billion) in plans for BRL 5 billion (about USD 910 million) on offer.
Decisions made over the next 12 to 18 months will show whether Brazil keeps exporting raw materials or starts manufacturing what the transition consumes.
What for
Brazil has the minerals the energy transition depends on. The Hub exists so the country can turn this advantage into industry, technology and skilled jobs, with a new generation of projects designed from the start with domestic processing, materials recovery and agreements with communities.
What we want to change:
- producers, buyers, financiers and regulators deciding together, where today each decides alone;
- investment reaching the separation, refining and component manufacturing stages, where the value lies and where the country still has little capacity;
- public rules and incentives that reward value addition, circularity and benefits for host regions;
- communities in mining regions taking part in decisions and keeping a lasting share of the value generated.
How it works
Applied intelligence: evidence and analysis to guide decisions.
Mobilization and engagement: technical roundtables, webinars and forums to exchange knowledge and secure commitments.
Strategic Missions: projects and solutions built around real innovation challenges.
Strategic Missions
The Hub will start with four Missions, to be validated with the stakeholders involved: silicon, urban mining (recovery of metals from discarded batteries, electronics and magnets), batteries and rare earths.
The Hub is also engaging with China, the global leader in processing and component manufacturing, to turn technology and industrial cooperation into concrete projects.
Governance
The Hub operates independently, with a plurality of perspectives. An independent Advisory Board, currently being formed, will guide its strategy, with the support of technical partners.
About Climate Ventures
Climate Ventures is an institute for climate innovation. It brings together the public and private sectors and civil society to accelerate a just transition to a green economy.
Next steps
Presented at COP31 in November 2026, the Hub is starting conversations with companies, governments, banks, funders and communities to validate the Missions and form the Advisory Board. The launch in Brazil is scheduled for March 2027.
Get involved
Companies, industries and startups can bring challenges, technology and projects to the Missions.
Investors and development banks can help structure opportunities and financing instruments.
Philanthropies can support the Hub and the Missions.
Governments can contribute policies and conditions for investment.
Universities and research institutes can act as technical partners.
Communities and civil society can take part in building solutions with lasting local benefits.
To get involved, write to mineral@climateventures.co
Financier
Sources: National Mining Agency (ANM), Sumário Mineral 2025; USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026; Amcham Brasil, UFMG and UFJF (Aug. 2026); BNDES and Finep, strategic minerals call for proposals (May 2025); Law No. 15,506/2026 (Brazil’s national policy on critical and strategic minerals); INDEF Green Transition Initiative and Penabulu-Oxfam, Jakarta Agenda (Aug. 2026). Exchange rate: USD 1 = BRL 5.48 (Nov. 4, 2026).