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05/06/2026 | Press Release

Raw materials extraction law: New Emmy Noether Group

Due to the geopolitical situation and the switch to renewable energies, the supply of raw materials has become the focus of attention. From next September, a research project based at the University of Kassel will be investigating the legal framework for the extraction of various raw materials, such as wood or mineral resources.

Portrait pictureImage: Sonja Rode.
Dr. Andreas Gutmann.

Using four case studies from national and transnational law, the group will examine how the law enables and regulates the extraction of raw materials and thus also makes distribution decisions. This should also help to make the supply of raw materials more sustainable. "For example, we are analyzing legal aspects of the extraction of mineral resources - how are legal positions created here that are even stronger than the right to land and lead, for example, to entire villages having to make way?" explains Dr. Andreas Gutmann, head of the project. The first doctoral position for the project will be advertised shortly.

The project entitled "Making Available - Distribution - Regulation: Raw Materials Management Law in the Transnational Constellation" is being funded by the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG) with around 1.4 million euros over six years. It is based at the Kassel Institute for Sustainability at the university. Gutmann is a member of the "Just Transitions" research group. In addition to Gutmann, three doctoral students will be working on the topic.

A research cluster on the topic of raw materials is currently being established at the University of Kassel. Shortly before the turn of the year, the North Hessian university had already acquired a Käte Hamburger Kolleg on "Raw Material Worlds".

With the Emmy Noether Program, the DFG supports outstanding young researchers who each take on the leadership of a group. It is named after the German mathematician Emmy Noether (1882 - 1935).

 

Contact:

Dr. Andreas Gutmann
University of Kassel
Department of Just Transitions
Phone: +49 561 804-3386
Email: andreas.gutmann[at]uni-kassel[dot]de
www: https://www.uni-kassel.de/fb01/institute/institut-fuer-sozialwesen/fachgebiete/just-transitions/team/dr-andreas-gutmann.html

Andreas Gutmann's researchincludes the "rights of nature".

What does that mean in a nutshell?

  • A new research project at the University of Kassel is investigating the legal framework for the extraction of raw materials.
  • It analyzes how law enables and regulates the extraction of raw materials and influences distribution decisions.
  • The Emmy Noether Group, headed by Dr. Andreas Gutmann, is being funded by the DFG for six years with 1.4 million euros and is part of a growing research focus on raw materials.