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

The Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains programme will support collaborative research and development projects, feasibility studies and Innovation Exchange challenges with the aim of building cross sector partnerships and establishing resilient supply chains.
Mining and up-stream

FOCUS AREA

Mining and up-stream

Novel and sustainable mining processes, separation processes, management of by-products.

Mid-stream

FOCUS AREA

Mid-stream

Sustainable mid-stream processes, increased process efficiency to metals, sustainable routes to rare earth alloys.

Down-stream and magnet manufacture

FOCUS AREA

Down-stream and magnet manufacture

Sustainable manufacturing routes to high performance magnets, increased specification of high-performance magnets.

Circular Supply Chains

FOCUS AREA

Circular Supply Chains

Collection and sorting of REE containing products, sustainable routes for processing recovered rare earth materials.

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

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

Wed
5
Apr
2023

Circular Critical Materials Supply Chain Event - Webinar

10.00 - 11.30 | Online

Watch now
Fri
26
May
2023

Sustainable Energy Horizon Europe Brokerage Event

09.30 - 12.30 | Online

Watch now
See all events

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