As global demand for electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced electronics surges, reliance on neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) magnets has exposed vulnerabilities in the supply chain and raised concerns over cost, sustainability, and geopolitical risk.

This panel will explore the fast-evolving landscape of alternative magnet technologies and their potential to reshape the future of magnetics and motor design. Experts from industry, academia, and government will discuss breakthroughs in ferrite, alnico, and iron-nitride magnets, as well as innovative hybrid and composite materials that promise competitive performance without rare-earth dependence.

Attendees will gain insight into current R&D progress, manufacturability challenges, and the economic and policy drivers accelerating this shift. The session will also examine where non-rare-earth magnets can most effectively compete—and where NdFeB will likely remain unmatched—in the next generation of electric motors and advanced energy systems.