Conference Version (120–150 words) Kasperi Karhapää serves as Business Development Lead at Sokli Oy, a company developing one of Europe’s most significant critical minerals projects in Northern Finland. In his role, he is responsible for commercialization, business development, customer and partner engagement, and strategic value chain development across phosphate, rare earth elements, niobium, and iron products. He works closely with industrial customers, technology partners, research organizations, and public stakeholders to advance sustainable and resilient European supply chains for critical raw materials. In addition to leading market and partnership activities, Kasperi contributes to project planning, financing preparation, and international collaboration initiatives, including EU-funded innovation programs. His professional interests include critical raw materials, circular economy solutions, industrial partnerships, and the development of sustainable mineral value chains that strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy.
Sokli – More than a Mine: Building Europe’s Future Critical Raw Materials Ecosystem
The Sokli project in Northern Finland is more than a mining project. Based on one of Europe’s most significant deposits of phosphate, iron, rare earth elements and niobium, Sokli aims to strengthen the supply of critical raw materials needed for the clean transition, digitalisation and European strategic autonomy. The project is also the foundation of More than a Mine, a Business Finland Veturi programme that brings together companies, research organisations and other stakeholders to develop next-generation mining, processing and circular economy solutions. This presentation introduces the Sokli project and the vision behind More than a Mine: creating an open innovation ecosystem and demonstration platform where new technologies can be developed, tested and scaled. We will present collaboration opportunities and invite partners from across Europe to join us in building sustainable value chains, industrial competitiveness and future solutions for critical raw materials.
