Critical Minerals: Network Insight Collaboration Environment (CM-NICE)

The published government strategy (July-2022) for the management of risks associated with Critical Mineral (CM) identified that better use of data generated in supply chains (end-to-end, from mining through processing, transportation, and manufacturing) is needed to accelerate innovation and a more efficient circular economy. Therefore, the purpose of the project is to implement elements of a collaboration toolkit that allows insight from data to be shared across multiple parties, without the need to expose the underlying data itself. The supply chain scenario to be used in demonstrating the capability and value will be the critical minerals supply-chain for the manufacture of Electric Vehicle batteries. The mineral extraction will take place in Australia with the final product in the UK market. The intention of the project will be to develop a prototype for a collaboration toolkit with a Technology Readiness Level of TRL 5 (technology model or prototype demonstration in a relevant environment).

It has been established via government/industry engagement that:

* Industry recognises that current methods of supply chain management are unsustainable (financially, environmentally and socially)
* Collaboration over data usage is a prerequisite to making improvements
* Proposed technology include autonomous AI agents, digital ledger technology (DLT) and cryptographic zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP).
* The intervention of a neutral capability is needed to enable otherwise competitive and data-protective entities to collaborate towards a solution that works for the whole industry

This project seeks to create a suite of digital tools to help govern the exchange of insight and value between companies enabling users to map activities, availability, and transit of critical minerals across the supply chain. The tools will allow users with the right permissions to access insight on the provenance and ESG performance of critical mineral supply chains; thus, playing a pivotal role in the Government's Strategy for more sustainable critical minerals supply chains.

Project stakeholders include:

The project, led by Digital Catapult (DC) as part of their Digital Supply Chain Hub, will lead on the technical developments with Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing. The International Chambers of Commerce, supported by Teesside University are leveraging their expertise in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaboration bringing together the Cabinet Office, GIZ in Germany and key Australian stakeholders to ensure that we will have participation of all the Lithium supply chain and technology companies from mines in Australia, through ports, UK manufacturing and into the EV batteries of cars manufactured by Nissan and Saab in the UK.