Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub

Tech Hubs Official Designee Badge

Lead Agency: Missouri University of Science and Technology

State Served: Missouri

Applicant-Defined Region: Carter, Crawford, Dent, Howell, Iron, Jefferson, Madison, Oregon, Phelps, Reynolds, Shannon, St. Francios, Ste. Genevieve, Texas, and Washington Counties

Core Technology Area: Critical mineral processing

Contact: Kwame Awuah-Offei ([email protected])

Media Contact: Kwame Awuah-Offei ([email protected])

Organizational Link: https://criticalmineralstechhub.com/

The Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy (CM2AE) Tech Hub, led by the Missouri University of Science and Technology, aims to position south-central Missouri as a global leader in critical minerals processing to provide the materials needed to support battery technology. This Tech Hub builds on the region’s mineral rich geography, expertise in hydrometallurgical refining, and existing assets to increase processing capacity to convert minerals into materials necessary for advanced energy and manufacturing technologies. In doing so, the CM2AE Tech Hub seeks to meet the demand of U.S. advanced manufacturers and reduce dependence on foreign critical minerals, while creating thousands of good-paying jobs. 

The CM2AE Tech Hub seeks to strengthen production of critical minerals for downstream U.S. advanced manufacturing and enhance national security by reducing the risk, cost, and time required to develop commercially viable hydrometallurgical processing and manufacturing operations. 

EDA intends to award this Tech Hub grant funding of approximately $38 million to:

  • Build and outfit a first-of-its-kind, world-class critical minerals processing test bed that will develop and evaluate novel, multi-critical materials recovery systems from primary and secondary sources including mines, slag heaps, and black mass from battery recycling; and
  • Provide technology support services to mining and processing firms to advance innovations toward market readiness and strengthen supply chain connections.