Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1466505
14 SMT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2022 and processing technologies to reduce import dependency and to mitigate foreign-dependent vulnerability. 13. Strategy to advance the recycling technol- ogy to build a true closed-loop system: To the environment-enthusiasts, for example, metals such as steel and alumi- num are even important for renewable energy (perhaps counter-intuitively). 14. From free-markets point of view, a strat- egy to ensure that solutions are not worse than the problems—immensely paramount to tackling critical materials. 15. Again, nothing can beat the human ingenuity for breakthrough innovations to either advance the functions or reduce the cost or both. For example, explore the potential of nickel to serve as a catalyst in lieu of palladium to catalyze chemical reactions like cross-couplings. Its success will cut cost tremendously, not to mention the enhanced "security" of resources. 16. For protecting the "brain" that goes into all "modern" commercial and military products, watch diligently for, act prudently on the materials going into the chips (semiconductors) manufactur- ing. is is a sound strategy for what the role of the government should be and how the government can play effectively. None of the above should be or can be viewed and attended monolithically. To accomplish (8), the strategy to "manage" the current and potentially future conflict minerals calls for embracing both environmental and geopoliti- cal considerations. 2 More to Do Recently, President Biden's executive order identified risks in four key categories of criti- cal materials: semiconductors, rare earth min- erals, active pharmaceutical ingredients, and large capacity batteries. Nonetheless, the effi- cient and effective plan of action is yet to be carved out. Identification is a starting step, not an endgame; a key question goes to the rem- edies or solutions, both strategically and tac- tically, in covering near-term and long-term time horizons, to secure or to establish alter- nate sources of critical metals, minerals, and materials. is calls for a decisive push for- ward. As any alternate source of metals, minerals, and materials must go through a rigorous val- idation and verification process, the question also goes to how long it takes to come up with the plan and action. Is it "fast" enough? Addi- tionally, in the long run, what kind of incen- tives can justifiably come from the govern- ment, federally and locally? Multiple initiatives to address the challenges of global supply chain are in the works; yet, the supply chain of knowledge should be fortified, in parallel. In a nutshell, staying the same is not an option; the reality remains the same: to deliver a holistic, all-encompassing approach by "amalgamating" my 16 points and other envis- aged areas to reach a set of executable actions, and to forthrightly act now. e bottom-line is to not rely on unreliable sources; and the ultimate challenge is to not create solutions that are worse than the prob- lems. SMT007 As any alternate source of metals, minerals, and materials must go through a rigorous validation and verification process, the question also goes to how long it takes to come up with the plan and action.