A System-Based Framework for Reducing the Digital Divide in Critical Mineral Supply Chains

The widening digital divide within the Global Critical Mineral Resource Supply Chain (GCMRS) 4.0 creates significant barriers to cross-border governance and operational efficiency. To quantify and address this disparity, this study identifies 20 Critical Success Factors (CSFs) through expert interviews with 15 industry specialists in South Korea. A hybrid multi-criteria decision-making framework integrating Fuzzy DEMATEL, Analytic Network Process (ANP), and the Choquet integral is developed to map causal relationships and determine factor weights. The empirical results reveal a distinct ‘technology-first’ dependency. Specifically, Scalable Technical Solutions and Cloud Computing Access emerge as the primary driving forces with the highest global weights, while Digital Investment Subsidies serve as the central hub for resource allocation. Unlike generic governance models, this study provides a quantifiable decision-making basis for policymakers. It demonstrates that bridging the hard infrastructure gap is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of soft collaborative mechanisms in the critical mineral sector.