US and UK governments have renewed their efforts to support their critical minerals supply chains, with announcements aimed at boosting the critical materials workforce and supporting innovative projects with new funding options.
Supported by £25 million in funding, the UK government has launched the Critical Minerals Accelerator (CM Accelerator). The objective of the CM Accelerator is to support research, development and innovation in extraction, midstream processing, and recycling which currently do not qualify for or are unable to attract support from public institutions and private finance. It will also aim to increase validation, commercialisation prospects and scale-up in the UK. The CM Accelerator is part of the £50 million UK Critical Mineral Programme, which is important in underpinning parts of the UK Government's Modern Industrial Strategy, launched during 2025.
The CM Accelerator is focused on companies and projects that are at technology readiness level six to eight and are close to commercialisation but face barriers in proving the project economics and de-risking their processes. The funding will support multiple projects through a competitive process with grants expected to range from £150,000 to £3 million. The government said that it expects all projects funded under the accelerator to be delivered by March 2030. While the lead applicant for funding must be a UK registered business, with operations and a commitment to commercial activity in the UK, the project teams can also include non-profits, universities, and research and technology organisations.
The government said the CM Accelerator is underpinned by three priorities: driving economic growth, including catalysing private sector investment and expansion across the UK critical minerals supply chain; strengthening economic security by building sovereign capability in a strategically critical sector; and building domestic resilience which includes reducing reliance on overseas supply chains.
Meanwhile the US Government’s Department of Energy (DoE) has set out plans to provide up to $100 million to strengthens the US’ critical mineral workforce. The Providing Opportunities for Specialised Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative will expand educational opportunities and develop a skilled workforce to support domestic production, processing, recovery and recycling of critical minerals. PROSPECT is being delivered by the DOE's Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation.
Assistant secretary of energy, Audrey Robertson said: “PROSPECT invites students to work at the intersection of cutting edge science and the country's highest strategic priorities: "This unprecedented investment in the critical minerals workforce will funnel homegrown talent into fulfilling, high-demand careers at the forefront of America’s industrial renaissance.”
With the US facing significant workforce shortage across the critical minerals and materials supply chain, one of the aims of PROSPECT is to double the number of graduates with degrees related to mining, minerals and associated supply chain technologies within two years. The DoE estimates that the US will need around 6000 new engineers in the mining sector alone over the next decade, while shortages in materials science, processing and recycling continue to challenge efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains.
Further reading:
- Critical minerals: Why supply chain worries have gone from risk to reality
- Why the US wants to remake the critical minerals supply chain
- Critical minerals: UK unveils plan to boost production
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