This position paper complements ETP SMR’s broader workforce agenda by focusing on two critical enablers of Europe’s raw materials ambitions: specialised higher education and sustained research and innovation investment. It argues that the successful implementation of the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) and the RESourceEU Action Plan requires both a highly skilled workforce and a strong innovation pipeline across the entire mineral raw materials value chain. To address current gaps, the paper calls for long-term EU support for a network of joint MSc programmes in raw materials and a substantial increase in dedicated FP10 research and innovation funding, including support for pilot and demonstration projects. While respecting Member States’ responsibility for education policy, it advocates EU-level incentives and co-funding mechanisms to strengthen strategic skills development, foster technological leadership, and secure Europe’s long-term raw materials resilience, competitiveness, and economic security.