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Executive Story: Supply Chain for the Most Precious Resources on Earth
Monday, May 04, 2026 / 05:00 PM - 05:30 PM EDT
About the Session
Rare earth elements are foundational to modern life, from phones and laptops to electric vehicles, yet global supply remains limited. In this session, Microsoft shares a supply chain model that treats retired data center hardware as a strategic asset. Attendees will learn how recovering rare earth oxides from hard drives can reduce emissions by up to 80 percent compared to traditional mining while strengthening future magnet supply. The session illustrates how sustainability led innovation can enhance supply chain resilience and long term competitiveness as AI infrastructure scales.