CEO
Aegion
Samridhi Shoor is the CEO and Director of Aegion, an advanced materials company pioneering rare earth substitution alloys, graphene–metal nanocomposites, and next-generation superalloys for clean energy, aerospace, and defense applications. She leads Aegion’s R&D operations at IIT Delhi, advancing innovations that reduce dependency on critical imports through earth-abundant material design, strategic mineral recycling, and circular economy integration.
As a rare earth element (REE) mining and recycling innovator, Samridhi’s work bridges scientific research and policy strategy—developing pathways for sustainable material independence and technological sovereignty. Her research interests include transition metal alloy systems, graphene-based materials, and hybrid chemistries that redefine performance and supply chain resilience.
Beyond her scientific pursuits, Samridhi is an active voice in WICCI and the Women Economic Forum, championing women-led innovation and policy engagement in advanced manufacturing and materials R&D. Her vision places Aegion at the intersection of research, resilience, and reform, driving the global shift beyond rare earths toward a new era of sustainable material ecosystems.
Beyond Rare Earths: The Next Frontier in Strategic Materials
The 21st-century materials race extends far beyond the dominance of rare earths. As global industries transition toward clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and defense self-reliance, the world faces an urgent challenge: securing access to critical materials while minimizing geopolitical vulnerabilities and environmental costs.
This presentation explores the emerging frontier of strategic materials innovation—focusing on substitution, circularity, and chemistry redesign as pathways to material independence. It highlights how next-generation materials such as graphene-based composites, transition metal oxides, advanced ceramics, and high-entropy alloys are redefining supply chains once dependent on rare earths.
Key themes include:
1. Substitution & Material Redesign: Engineering functional alternatives to rare earth-dependent magnets, catalysts, and coatings using sustainable elements.
2. Recycling & Urban Mining: Building circular value chains to recover high-value metals and extend material lifecycles.
3. Alternative Chemistries: Leveraging computational materials science and quantum modeling to discover earth-abundant, high-performance compounds.
The session aims to provoke dialogue between policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders on reshaping the material ecosystem—where innovation, not scarcity, defines the next era of strategic independence.