The United States depends on foreign sources for many of the minerals and materials that enable critical technologies across defense, advanced manufacturing, energy, transportation, and infrastructure. This reliance creates strategic vulnerabilities in supply chains that are essential to national security, economic competitiveness, and technological leadership.

Federal agencies including the Department of Energy, Department of War, and U.S. Geological Survey have identified critical minerals as a national priority. Recent federal actions have further accelerated efforts to strengthen domestic capabilities for resource identification, extraction, processing, recycling, and material substitution.

At the same time, global competition for critical minerals and rare earth elements continues to intensify. Meeting future demand will require new approaches that expand domestic supply, improve processing and manufacturing capabilities, recover valuable materials from existing waste streams, and reduce dependence on foreign-controlled resources.

The Mine the Gap: Critical Minerals Challenge seeks innovative technologies that can help close these gaps and strengthen the resilience of U.S. critical mineral supply chains. Selected innovators will showcase their solutions to stakeholders focused on advancing domestic capabilities in the materials and technologies that power America’s future.

AREAS OF INTEREST:

• Extraction of Critical Minerals from Conventional and Unconventional Sources
• Advances in Mineral Separation Technologies
• Innovations in Magnet Materials and Manufacturing Techniques
• Production of Graphite and Other Critical Materials and Their Novel Applications
• Other

Application Opens December 1, 2026    Deadline: January 26, 2027