DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator (CMMA)
Sponsor: US DOEInternal Deadline: 04/14/2026Institutional Submission Limit: variesProgram Website
Limited submission opportunity: DOE Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator
The Department of Energy seeks proposals to bolster the critical minerals and materials supply chain through funding industry-led prototype and pilot projects for new technologies. This opportunity is comprised of two phases of work, Phase 1 aiming to prototype technologies and Phase 2 aiming to demonstrate technologies at a pilot scale.
NOTE: The cost share must be at least 20% of the Phase 1 project costs for initial research and development tasks and 50% of the Phase 2 project costs if selected for Phase 2 demonstration and commercial application tasks.
Topic Area 1 (TA1): Recovery and production of CMMs, including rare earth elements
Three subtopics are available for award based on feedstock:
- 1A: Postindustrial manufacturing scrap
- 1B: Postconsumer scrap (with an emphasis on electronic waste and drivetrains)
- 1C: Blended feedstocks including mine tailings, postindustrial scrap, and postconsumer scrap
USC is limited to one submission from Topic Area 1. Letters of intent will be due April 21 and full applications will be due May 26.
Topic Area 2 (TA2): Processes to refine and alloy gallium, gallium nitride, germanium, and silicon carbide.
USC is limited to one submission from Topic Area 2. Letters of intent will be due April 21 and full applications will be due June 22.
Topic Area 3 (TA3): Cost-competitive direct lithium extraction, separation, and processing.
The following three subtopics are available for funding:
- 3A: Cost-competitive direct lithium extraction
- 3B: Advancing pre- and post- treatment and disposal technologies for direct lithium extraction
- 3C: Exploration and characterization of critical materials and REEs from volcanic-hosted geothermal systems
USC is limited to one submission per subtopic area under Topic Area 3. Letters of intent will be due April 21 and full applications will be due July 20.
Selected Applicants:
- 1C: Blended feedstocks including mine tailings, postindustrial scrap, and postconsumer scrap, Jay Gaillard
- 3A: Cost-competitive direct lithium extraction, Kevin Huang
- 3B: Advancing pre- and post- treatment and disposal technologies for direct lithium extraction, Zhenmeng Peng
Submission Process
If interested in applying for this opportunity, please combine the following items into a single PDF and email to resdev@mailbox.sc.edu by 5 p.m. on April 14:
- Cover page and include each in the following order:
- Topic Area
- Project title
- PI
- Collaborators (note if they have been confirmed)
- Identify one of the following statements:
- You have pitched the proposed research to a DOE program officer and have received positive feedback (If yes, please provide PO’s feedback as a pdf in your internal submission.)
- You have not pitched the proposed research to a DOE program officer
- One-page project abstract
- 2-3 page CV/Biosketch for the PI (SCiENcv preferred)
For more information, register to attend the informational webinar at 11:30 a.m. on April 16, 2026. Full details on funding, eligibility and topic areas are available on the program website.