The clean energy transition depends on a narrow set of critical minerals with highly concentrated and environmentally intensive supply chains. This paper reviews how innovation across the full value chain|from exploration, mining, and processing to manufacturing, use, reuse, and recycling|can re- duce these vulnerabilities. A simple framework maps technological, digital, and organisational innova- tions, complemented by indicators such as patents, venture capital, industrial restructuring, circularity metrics, and traceability tools. The paper synthesises evidence on core drivers and barriers, includ- ing price volatility, industrial policy, environmental regulation, rm strategies, market size, and rising demand from AI and defence. Three focus areas|mining technologies, rare-earth magnets, and bat- teries|illustrate concrete pathways for reducing primary demand, diversifying supply, and improving circularity. Finally, we identify an urgent need for research on how emerging policy mechanisms, such as price stabilisation and digital traceability, can coordinate with technological progress to support supply security and climate goals.