On 12 May 2026, representatives of academia, industry, public administration and non-governmental organisations gathered in Katowice, Poland, for the conference “Social License to Operate”. An event was dedicated to strengthening dialogue, trust and cooperation between local communities and companies operating in the raw materials sector. The conference was organised within the framework of international activities carried out by Permia 1 Sp. z o.o., Grupa Altum and MEERI PAS, all actively engaged in promoting the concept of Social License to Operate (SLO). The event highlighted the growing importance of responsible communication, stakeholder engagement and long-term relationship building in the context of sustainable raw materials development.

A strong contribution to the conference programme came from project representatives Professor Joanna Kulczycka and Dr Olga Janikowska, who addressed key aspects of Social License to Operate (SLO) implementation, with a focus on education, communication, and socio-environmental conflicts. Professor Kulczycka (AGH University of Krakow) highlighted the role of education, promotion, and good practices in raising awareness of SLO among companies and local communities, emphasizing knowledge-sharing and transparent communication as key drivers of social acceptance. Dr Janikowska (MEERI PAS) presented “Between Development and Resistance: How Do Socio-Environmental Conflicts Affect SLO?”, examining how such conflicts shape stakeholder perceptions and relations, and how, when properly managed, they can improve transparency and dialogue with local communities.

Throughout the conference, speakers repeatedly emphasized that Social License to Operate is not a formal permit, but an ongoing social process based on trust, transparency and credibility. Participants discussed the need for early stakeholder engagement, responsible resource management and continuous dialogue with local communities, especially in sectors where industrial projects may have significant environmental and social impacts.

The event also provided an important platform for interdisciplinary exchange, bringing together different perspectives to address the future of responsible raw materials activities in Europe. The discussions confirmed that SLO is becoming an increasingly important element of sustainable development and energy transition strategies.