The Department of Energy has announced a $69 million funding opportunity for projects aimed at advancing the domestic production and refining of critical materials.
Table of Contents
What Is the Focus of the Funding Opportunity?
The notice of funding opportunity, issued by DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation, or CMEI, and Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office, or HGEO, is designed to address technical barriers affecting the U.S. critical materials supply chain. It focuses on three specific categories: enhancing production efficiency for rare Earth elements, refining and alloying materials such as gallium, germanium and silicon carbide, and supporting direct lithium extraction, separation and processing.
The department aims to accelerate the development of innovations from bench-scale research to the market. Selected teams will partner with industry leaders and collaborate with U.S. national laboratories to develop these processes.
“This funding will help establish a more secure and affordable supply of the critical minerals and materials that are foundational to American energy dominance, national security, and industrial competitiveness,” said Audrey Robertson, assistant secretary of energy.
What Are the Details of the DOE Initiative?
The effort, part of the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Program, is funded by CMEI’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office and HGEO’s Office of Geothermal. It falls under the DOE’s broader $1 billion funding initiative for critical materials announced in August 2025. Interested parties may submit their letters of intent by April 21. Full application deadlines will begin in May and vary by topic area.
Related Articles
The Department of Health and Human Services has transitioned its payroll system to the cloud as part of a push to accelerate service delivery, improve interoperability and advance the shift to a shared human resource platform. The department’s move to a cloud-based payroll system highlights the kind of digital transformation reshaping federal operations today. Government leaders driving AI adoption and enterprise IT modernization efforts will share insights at the 2026 Digital Transformation Summit on April 22. Register now! HHS said Wednesday the replacement of the COBOL-based payroll system seeks to address increasing operational complexity and rising maintenance costs tied to
The 2026 Wash100 Popular Vote is surging into a high-stakes phase with only three weeks left in this exciting competition. Industry leaders are still making decisive moves up the leaderboard while new contenders emerge with force. Make sure to cast your votes before April 30th—all participants receive 10 votes—to elevate your top choices for the 2026 win. With rankings shifting and momentum accelerating, the competition is becoming more intense and unpredictable by the day. Who Are the New Forces Shaking Up the Leaderboard? This week brought a powerful infusion of new energy, with high-impact debuts that are immediately reshaping the competitive landscape.
The U.S. Navy has named Peter Reddy as executive director of the Naval Sea Systems Command’s Naval Surface and Undersea Warfare Centers, placing a senior engineering and acquisition official in charge of the service’s core technical enterprise at a time of mounting pressure on fleet delivery and modernization. The Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27 convenes a high-level assembly of Navy leaders, defense officials and industry innovators to navigate the emerging technologies and modernization priorities critical to the future of naval dominance. Register now! Reddy most recently served as deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research,