Funding for critical materials circular solutions

Apply for a share of up to £5.4 million for collaborative R&D projects

Innovate UK and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program are jointly funding a new competition aiming to support the development and commercialisation of circular solutions for critical minerals.

The competition is open to Canadian and UK partnerships undertaking collaborative research and development (CRD) projects.

Proposals should focus on one or more of the following five themes:

• enhanced circularity in critical minerals - battery systems
• enhanced circularity in critical minerals - high performance permanent magnets
• sustainable use of critical minerals - processing and manufacturing
• sustainable use of critical minerals - reduction in use
• innovations in environmental, societal, governance for critical minerals

Your proposal must demonstrate co-development, have a high innovation potential and address a technological challenge. It must include a plan for future exploitation leading to full commercialisation, and it must ensure all necessary environmental, social and governance and regulatory challenges are addressed.

Innovate UK will fund feasibility projects, industrial research projects and experimental development projects, as defined in the guidance on categories of research.

Find out more about this funding for driving circularity in critical minerals.

First published 20 November 2023