Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains Programme
This £15 million programme will support the development of resilient UK based supply chains for rare earth elements. With a focus on primary (mine to magnet) and secondary (End of Life to magnet) supply chains.
About the Programme
A wide range of critical minerals are required for the technologies and innovation required to decarbonise the transport, energy and industrial sectors and achieve the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. An electric vehicle not only requires Cobalt, Lithium and Graphite for the battery but also Rare Earth Elements for the electric motor. These minerals and others have been identified as having high criticality for the UK in the recent Resilience for the Future: The United Kingdom’s Critical Minerals Strategy report.
The Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains programme, announced by the Department for Business and Trade, supports the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy and aims to build and develop resilient supply chains to address this strategically important area with an initial focus on rare earth elements. Utilised in electric vehicles, consumer electronics and wind turbines, permanent magnets made from rare earth elements, are crucial in the development of Net Zero innovations.
The programme will support the development of innovation in primary (mine to magnet) and secondary (End of Life to magnet) supply chains. The programme will coordinate and deliver activities within the following areas; international collaboration, skills development, investment (public and private), policy advice and standards development.
Programme Focus Areas
FOCUS AREA
Mining and up-stream
Novel and sustainable mining processes, separation processes, management of by-products.
FOCUS AREA
Mid-stream
Sustainable mid-stream processes, increased process efficiency to metals, sustainable routes to rare earth alloys.
FOCUS AREA
Down-stream and magnet manufacture
Sustainable manufacturing routes to high performance magnets, increased specification of high-performance magnets.
FOCUS AREA
Circular Supply Chains
Collection and sorting of REE containing products, sustainable routes for processing recovered rare earth materials.
FOCUS AREA
Materials
Novel materials for high-performance magnets, substitution for high-performance magnets.
Private Investment Report
The Circular Critical Materials Supply Chain Programme’s Private Investment Report details the overarching opportunities and challenges faced by private investors when navigating investment in the rare earth supply chain. It features insights on equity funding activity across both the global and national supply chains to create a cohesive picture of the investment landscape.
Read more
"Rare earth elements underpin so much of what makes everyday life and work possible, from the cars we drive to the phones we use. It is essential that, in a rapidly changing world, we do all we can to ensure resilient supplies of these and other critical minerals."
— Nusrat Ghani, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade
Related Opportunities
Global Business Innovation Programme in Canada - Critical Minerals
Opens: 04/09/2023 Closes: 08/10/2023
Innovate UK EDGE are looking for up to 15 businesses with circular solutions for critical minerals and their supply chains to join the GBIP in Canada.
More Information
Innovate UK Smart grants: June 2023
Opens: 15/06/2023 Closes: 27/09/2023
UK registered organisations can apply for a share of up to £25m for game changing, commercially viable R&D that can significantly impact the UK economy.
More Information
Rapidly find innovative solutions to tangible materials and manufacturing challenges
Opens: 24/08/2023 Closes: 30/09/2023
Innovate UK is now inviting expressions of interest from those looking to rapidly find innovative solutions to tangible materials and manufacturing challenges.
More Information
Related Events and Recordings
Our Experts
Related News
01/03/2023
The UK’s changing rare earth landscape
Could bacteria, ionic liquids and electronic waste help build the UK supply chains and resilience for EVs, wind turbines and laptops?
Read more
17/04/2023
Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 9: Anodes
The Battery Caffè is delivering another great podcast episode to listen to this week.. Listen to Episode 9 about anodes now.
Read more
Related Content
- Press release: Official government announcement: 27/02/23
- Webinar: Global expert mission on critical materials in Canada and the US dissemination event
- Webinar: Understanding the UK Supply Chain Opportunity in Materials for Permanent Magnets
- News: Findings from the Innovate UK global expert mission on critical materials
- News: EU project SCRREEN publishes report on the potential impact of critical raw materials on business continuity
- Programme: Innovation Exchange
- Sector: Driving the Electric Revolution
Sign up to our newsletter
Sign up to our newsletter to learn more about our programme and to receive latest news, events and opportunities.