Critical minerals are the building blocks for our green future, and the Government of Canada is committed to advancing research, technology and projects in the critical minerals arena.

As we advance the implementation of the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, the federal government recently announced three funding streams to support innovative critical mineral projects at various sizes and stages of development. Priority will be given to projects that advance one of the three value chains referenced in the Strategy: clean technologies, advanced manufacturing and information and communication technologies.

Here’s what you need to know:

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Alliance Missions: Critical Minerals Research

NSERC’s Alliance Missions grants for critical minerals projects are aimed at encouraging interdisciplinary, collaborative work.

This program will provide support for activities that advance Canadian knowledge, models, processes, tools and technologies within domestic critical mineral value chains. The grants will also support projects to advance a domestic circular economy, and to support the development of best practices in technology, innovation and collaborative ventures.

Aimed at: University researchers collaborating with partner organizations from the private, public or not-for-profit sectors

Funding amounts: $100,000 to $500,000 per project per year, for a duration of three years

Deadline: Letter of intent is due September 7, 2023 and full application is due November 9, 2023

For more information, see the detailed program description on NSERC’s website.

Critical Minerals Research Development and Demonstration Program (CMRDD)

The CMRDD program can take projects to the next level: advancing the commercial readiness of technologies that will help Canada produce key critical minerals.

The newly announced second round of CMRDD funding is aimed at moving projects from the pre-commercial stage to demonstration, adoption and integration into domestic and international value chains.

The program focuses on projects that will advance technologies to produce key critical minerals, improve production from unconventional sources, develop new ways to process minerals, reduce energy and carbon intensity, and improve resource optimization and waste reduction through circular economy principles.

Aimed at: Pilot plants and demonstration projects that meet technology readiness levels (TRL) 6-8

Funding amounts: Up to $5 million per project

Deadline: 4:00 p.m. EDT, September 29, 2023

For more information, visit the CMRDD website.

Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)

The Strategic Innovation Fund makes smart, targeted investments in the most promising projects in critical mineral processing, manufacturing and recycling.

Of the three programs described in this newsletter, the SIF is targeted at the most technologically and commercially advanced projects. For example, some projects previously funded by SIF include a $27 million contribution to E3 Lithium Ltd. in Calgary, Alberta, for the direct extraction of lithium from brines and a $222 million investment to support Rio Tinto Feret Titane in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, in producing an array of critical minerals like titanium and scandium and decarbonizing operations through innovative smelting technology.

Aimed at: Advanced-stage projects capable of demonstrating significant financial and technical readiness

Funding amounts: $1.5 billion available, spread across selected projects

Deadline: Continuous intake