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Responsible sourcing of Conflict Minerals & Strategic Raw Materials

Internship 25 to 36 months

Leuven (Belgium)

Published on 2 November 2026

  • Contract

    Internship 25 to 36 months

  • Location

    Leuven (Belgium)

  • Start date

    As soon as possible

  • Salary

    Information not provided

  • Remote working

    Not specified

Internshipobjective: Design a material-centric, risk-based responsible sourcing frameworkfor Conflict Minerals and Critical and Strategic Raw Materials at imec.

Core problem: Conflict minerals and critical or strategic rawmaterials are embedded across imec's value chain. They appear in solid, liquid,and gaseous inputs and can originate from any tier, not only Tier-1 suppliers.Supplier-based due diligence alone is insufficient. A material-based approachis required.

Key shift: Move from supplier-centric ESG due diligence tomaterial-centric due diligence, aligned with OECD guidance, the EU ConflictMinerals Regulation, and CSDDD expectations.

Scope
In scope: High-impact material flows across all tiers - Solidcomponents, liquids, and gases used in semiconductor R&D and pilotmanufacturing - Integration with existing supplier archetypes, risk matrices,and KPIs.

Out of scope: Full Tier-2 or Tier-3 traceability -Quantification of material volumes - Material substitution or redesign.

Projectstructure

Phase 1.Literatuurstudie rondConflictmineralen en kritische en strategische rauwe materialen; (krijtlijnennog uit te tekenen)

Phase 2. Materialentry-point and supply-chain scoping: Select representative material flows across equipment, chemicals, andgases; Identify how and where materials enter imec, including importer-of-recordchecks; Map upstream tiers where material risk originates; Identify informationgaps and unmanaged risks.

Phase 3. Riskprioritisation model: Design aprioritisation logic based on material risk, form, geography, supply-chaincomplexity, and imec leverage; Apply proportionality to avoid one-size-fits-allcontrols.

Phase 4.Procurement controls and integration: Develop a responsible sourcing playbook for conflict minerals andcritical raw materials; Define how to identify sensitive materials at purchaselevel; Update supplier questionnaires and contractual clauses; Design amaterial-centric risk matrix; Link outputs directly to the non-climate ESG KPIon risk identification, prioritisation, and follow-up.

Deliverables:
  • Material taxonomy for solid, liquid, and gaseous inputs;
  • Material-centric supply-chain maps for selected flows.
  • Risk prioritisation framework with documented assumptions;
  • Responsible sourcing playbook for procurement use.
  • Visual risk matrix aligned with existing supplier governance;
  • Clear input to imec's non-climate ESG KPI baseline and tracking.

-x-

Sustainable Procurement

Type of internship: Master internship

Duration: 3 months

Required educational background: Chemistry/Chemical Engineering, Other

Supervising scientist(s): For further information or for application, please contact Ann-Sophie Vanwinsen (< email deleted for security reasons >)

The reference code for this position is 2026-INT-188. Mention this reference code in your application.

Only for self-supporting students.

Applications should include the following information:
  • resume
  • motivation
  • current study

Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application deadline

As long as the job is online

Study level

Master level or equivalent

Job Category

Environment & Sustainable Development

More about the company

imec

Embracing a better life.

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