Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration Program
Advancing the commercial readiness of emerging mineral processing operations or technologies
Since 2021, $246.3 million in federal funding has been allocated to the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) program to support the development of innovative processing technologies for the critical minerals industry, which will help advance Canadian mining projects toward production and further develop domestic critical minerals value chains.
CMRDD is administered through 2 funding streams:
Federal research and development projects
Closed for applications
Funds federal research and development (R&D) projects that are aligned with industry needs and supported by several of Canada’s federal research facilities.
Project applications from the most recent expression of interest intake process are currently in review.
Contribution funding
Open for applications
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now being accepted under the CMRDD program to identify high-potential projects that address key technology gaps and advance critical mineral processing, recycling, and circular technologies toward commercial deployment in Canada.
This continuous EOI process is intended to build a pipeline of high-potential, ready-to-proceed projects in the critical minerals sector that align with Canada’s strategic priorities.
Background
Within each funding stream, allocations will be made in phases as funding becomes available. The following provides a breakdown of budget allocations to date:
Federal research and development
Since 2021, Canada’s federal research laboratories have led 79 R&D projects focused on battery and magnet value chains, mining value from waste, and materials for clean energy applications. Learn more about Canada’s R&D projects.
Contribution funding
Since 2021, contribution funding has been allocated for research, development and demonstration projects to advance the commercial readiness of emerging processing technologies at technology readiness levels 6–8, and provide raw material inputs for use in:
- batteries and permanent magnets
- advanced manufacturing supply chains
- semiconductors
- information and communication technologies
- critical infrastructure value chains for commercialization
CMRDD has funded projects that validate the feasibility and viability of processing technologies, with a strong focus on high priority critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements (REEs). In addition, the CMRDD has made strategic investments, in coordination with federal regional development agencies, to advance domestic production and processing capacity, ensuring key resources remain in Canada and contribute to resilient critical minerals value chains. See the list of funded projects below.
The CMRDD program (initially active from April 2022 to March 2027) has been extended to March 31, 2028 to support targeted G7 and allied priorities, including to accelerate the scale-up of transformative processing and recycling technologies, strengthen domestic value chains, attract private investment, and enable international deployment of Canadian technologies.
Directed application intake
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) may consider projects through directed intake approaches informed by program priorities and available resources. Projects may be identified by NRCan through engagement with proponents and in collaboration with provincial, territorial, or international partners. Participation in the directed intake is by invitation only; unsolicited applications will not be accepted. NRCan may consider projects that:
- advance critical mineral and recycling technologies towards commercialization
- strengthen priority critical minerals and value chains, with a focus on lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, copper, and rare earth elements, and
- support domestic and allied critical mineral supply chain resiliency through clean technology, advanced manufacturing, and defence-linked applications, consistent with Canada’s G7 Critical Minerals Production Alliance priorities for secure, sustainable, and transparent production
Projects identified for further consideration will undergo a full assessment, consistent with program requirements, including technical, prioritization, and due diligence criteria. NRCan may prioritize projects that are investment-ready and strongly aligned with program objectives to support timely decision-making, subject to available funding.
Funded Projects
The following is a list of projects that received contribution funding from the CMRDD program. These projects help to advance production of zero-emission vehicle batteries and other clean technologies such as the manufacturing of permanent magnets.
A Route to Establish a Canadian Lithium Sulphide Supply Chain for Solid-State Batteries
Organization: Telescope Innovations Corp.
Description: Aims to scale-up and pilot its low-cost method to manufacture lithium sulphide, required to produce solid-state lithium batteries
Amount funded: $3,039,344
Status: Launched in 2025; expected to be completed by 2028
Critical mineral: Lithium
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Purified Phosphoric Acid Integrated Technology Centre
Organization: Arianne Phosphate Inc.
Description: Aims to assess the commercial viability of the mineral processing of phosphate rock from the Lac à Paul deposit and develop purified phosphoric acid (PPA) technology by conducting flotation piloting and recovery optimization along with acidification and acid generation.
Amount funded: $735,000
Status: Launched in 2025; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical minerals: Phosphorus, Titanium
Location: Saguenay, Quebec
Recycling of Graphite from Secondary Sources for Use in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Organization: Green Graphite Technologies Inc.
Description: Demonstrate Green Graphite Technologies’ GraphRenew™ technology is cost-effective and can sustainably recover and transform graphite from secondary sources into lithium-ion battery–grade graphite through a pilot plant project
Amount funded: $3,500,000
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2026
Critical mineral: Graphite
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Scale-up of the Lithium Extraction Process from Primary and Secondary Sources
Organization: COALIA
Description: Pilot the extraction and purification of lithium from spodumene ore using nitric acid, enabling the recovery of lithium along with by-products to be recycled as nitrogen fertilizers
Amount funded: $3,657,545
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical minerals: Lithium, cobalt, nickel
Location: Thetford Mines, Quebec
Catalytic Methane Pyrolysis to Produce Low-Emission Graphite
Organization: Innova Cleantech Corp.
Description: Advance Innova’s innovative technology by demonstrating the scalability and effectiveness of converting natural gas into emission-free graphite and hydrogen
Amount funded: $1,400,000
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical mineral: Graphite
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Recovery of Nickel from Recycled Batteries and Non-Conventional Feedstocks via the Carbonylation Process
Organization: Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc.
Description: Develop a pilot plant to recover nickel as pure nickel powder or other suitable forms for use in advanced battery manufacturing from a variety of non-pure, nickel-containing feedstocks using vapometallurgical processing, a unique technology that has significant environmental impact advantages
Amount funded: $5,000,000
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical mineral: Nickel
Location: Midland, Ontario
Kingston Demonstration Plant – Extended Operations
Organization: Cyclic Materials Inc.
Description: Operate a demonstration plant that produces high-purity mixed rare earth oxide (MREO) and a cobalt/nickel mixed hydroxide product (MHP) from mixed feed sources using proprietary Cyclic Materials Inc. physical (spoke) and hydrometallurgical (hub) processes, validating operating conditions to support future scale and commercial operations.
Amount funded: $4,893,125
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2026
Critical Mineral: Rare earth elements, cobalt, nickel
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Canadian Brine to Battery Chemicals: Simplified, Lower Cost, More Sustainable
Organization: Saltworks Technologies Inc.
Description: Process geological lithium brines using Saltwork’s novel technologies to produce lithium battery precursors through a process that reduces costs and energy while increasing lithium yield.
Amount funded: $4,937,500
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical Mineral: Lithium
Location: Richmond, British Columbia
Electrolysis for Lithium Production and Recycling
Organization: NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI)
Description: Establish a demonstration plant and continuous improvement test centre to advance the industrial implementation of the NORSCAND® membrane electrolysis technology for battery grade lithium hydroxide production through long-duration lithium production campaigns.
Amount funded: $4,500,000
Status: Launching in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical Mineral: Lithium
Location: Richmond, British Columbia
Piloting of Bioleaching Processes for Recovery of Battery Metals (Ni and Co) from Pyrrhotite Tailings
Organization: Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO)
Description: Perform continuous pilot campaigns to compare three competing bioleaching technologies developed with academic, industry and government research partners to demonstrate which one provides the most efficient, economic and environmentally sustainable method for the recovering of nickel, cobalt and copper from pyrrhotite-rich tailings.
Amount funded: $5,000,000
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical minerals: Nickel, cobalt, copper
Location: Sudbury, Ontario
Black Mass Recycling Project
Organization: Electra Battery Materials Corporation
Description: Demonstrate Electra’s hydrometallurgical process for recycling black mass material on a continuous production basis
Amount funded: $5,000,000
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical minerals: Nickel, cobalt, lithium
Locations: Cobalt, Ontario and Temiskaming Shores, Ontario
La Loutre Graphite Upgrading
Organization: Lomiko Metals Inc.
Description: Pilot upgrading of 200 tonnes of La Loutre graphite to prove the suitability of the battery anode material meeting purity levels of over 99.95% graphitic carbon content and very low impurity content
Amount funded: $4,941,590
Status: Launched in 2024; expected to be completed by 2027
Critical mineral: Graphite
Location: Lac-des-plages, Quebec
Cobalt Sulphate Process Pilot
Organization: Fortune Minerals Limited
Description: Pilot hydrometallurgical process to validate and optimize process conditions for the production of high-purity cobalt sulphate, bismuth ingots and blending of process streams; and the validation of gypsum by-product; as well as ensure the process residue is stable for safe disposal
Amount funded: $714,500
Status: Launched in November 2023; completed in March 2025
Critical minerals: Cobalt, nickel
Location: Northwest Territories
*Building on this project, additional funding of up to $7.5 million from Canada’s Global Partnerships Initiative has been allocated to Fortune to help advance engineering for mine site and refinery infrastructure through the completion of its Front-End Engineering and Design study.
RapidSX™ Commercialization Demonstration Plant
Organization: Ucore Rare Metals Inc.
Description: Demonstrate the commercial efficacy of the RapidSX™ rare earth elements separation technology platform under rigorously simulated commercial conditions
Amount funded: $4,275,848
Status: Launched in November 2023; expected to be completed by March 2026
Critical minerals: Rare earth elements
Location: Kingston, Ontario
Technical and Economical Feasibility of Dumont Nickel Concentrate
Organization: Magneto Investments Limited Partnership
Description: Explore and optimize the key design parameters of processing nickel concentrate into battery intermediates (i.e., mixed hydroxide precipitate and nickel sulphate) using a hydrometallurgical program
Amount funded: $4,493,889
Status: Launched in November 2023; completed in March 2025
Critical minerals: Nickel, cobalt
Location: Amos, Quebec
Solvent Extraction for the Separation of Dysprosium and Terbium
Organization: Saskatchewan Research Council
Description: Develop, design, install, commission and test the separation of dysprosium and terbium oxide, using a solvent extraction process
Amount funded: $4,990,000
Status: Launched in October 2023; expected to be completed by December 2026
Critical minerals: Rare earth elements
Location: Saskatchewan
Recycling and Production of Rare-Earth Oxides from Permanent Magnet Scrap
Organization: Geomega Resources Inc.
Description: Demonstrate the sustainability of an innovative process to recycle rare earth elements from magnet scrap with a lower carbon footprint compared to other standard processes
Amount funded: $3,000,000
Status: Launched in March 2023; expected to be completed by September 2025
Critical minerals: Rare earth elements
Locations: Saint-Hubert, Quebec and Longueuil, Quebec
Battery Material Supply Chain Integration
Organization: FPX Nickel Corp.
Description: Demonstrate the technical and economic viability to produce battery-grade, high-purity nickel, cobalt and copper for the zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) battery supply chain from the Baptiste Nickel Project
Amount funded: $724,829
Status: Launched in March 2023; completed in September 2024
Critical minerals: Nickel, cobalt, copper
Location: British Columbia
Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) Pilot Project
Organization: E3 Lithium Ltd
Description: Construct and operate a DLE pilot plant that extracted lithium from brine using proprietary DLE technology
Amount funded: $3,545,000
Status: Launched March 2023; completed March 2024
Critical mineral: Lithium
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) Integration into Sherritt’s Fort Saskatchewan Metals Refinery
Organization: Sherritt International Corporation
Description: Evaluate the feasibility and opportunity of using MHP as an additional feed material to efficiently produce high-purity nickel and cobalt
Amount funded: $477,696
Status: Launched in March 2023; completed in March 2024
Critical minerals: Nickel, cobalt
Location: Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta