He is involved at Government level in initiatives related to critical raw materials (CRMs). He has highlighted Italy's efforts to restart its mining industry, dormant since the 1980s, through a strategic fund with €1 billion public funding matched by private investments, aiming to create a pipeline of projects worth around €2 billion. This fund supports the entire CRM value chain from extraction to recycling, fostering collaboration with private stakeholders to enhance Italy's industrial autonomy and contribute to the energy transition and circular economy.

Castronovo also praised the European Commission's selection of four Italian projects as strategic under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), focusing on recycling key materials like lithium, rare earths, platinum group metals, nickel, and copper. These projects are located in Lazio, Sardinia, Tuscany, and Veneto and are seen as vital for strengthening European CRM supplies and revitalizing Italy's mining sector.

He emphasizes a systemic approach to resource management and the importance of strategic funds, as discussed at a national workshop on raw materials and geomaterials, underscoring the need for synergy between academia, industry, and government to meet sustainability and energy transition goals.

In summary, Alberto Castronovo plays a pivotal role in Italy's CRM strategy, promoting a strategic fund to boost mining and recycling projects, collaborating with European partners, and aligning with the EU's CRMA objectives to secure critical raw materials for industrial and green transition needs.