Dr. Miha Zakotnik is a materials scientist with experience in processing and production of NdFeB permanent magnets. Dr. Zakotnik co-founded Urban Mining Company (UMC) in 2014, where NdFeB permanent magnets are recycled via the Magnet-to-Magnet (M2M) process. Dr. Zakotnik was heavily involved in UMC’s vision, strategy, factory design, process design, prototyping and scale up of the process. Dr. Zakotnik’s experience with NdFeB permanent magnets spans over 15 years, including recycling of NdFeB magnets, grain boundary engineering, IP, commercialization of the first smart magnet plant for mass production of Nd-Fe-B sintered magnets. Dr. Zakotnik worked worldwide in the rare earth industry and is currently the CTO of Urban Mining Company.