 NSF-SPRIND joint effort kicks off with the launch of critical minerals challenge in Germany, U.S.-based effort to follow
The transatlantic partnership expands opportunities to propel innovative technology translation in critical minerals in both the U.S. and Europe
The U.S. National Science Foundation marked the kickoff of its joint effort with the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation (SPRIND), congratulating SPRIND for the announcement of its challenge that aims to accelerate access to metals and critical materials from complex waste streams. In the coming months, NSF, through its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP), expects to announce a closely aligned U.S.-based effort as part of the NSF TIP Tech Metal Transformation program. These joint efforts build on the NSF-SPRIND partnership established last year that aims to accelerate breakthrough innovations in critical and emerging technologies on two continents.
Metals and critical materials are the foundation for numerous technologies and systems; yet, the U.S. does not have a secure domestic supply chain for these important resources. The TIP Tech Metal Transformation program, in partnership with SPRIND, will innovate how industry recovers and reuses metals by accelerating breakthroughs in metal extraction and transformation processes, providing a domestic supply of metals that are ready to use in U.S. manufacturing processes. The initiative will enable interdisciplinary researchers, entrepreneurs and industry partners to develop end-to-end prototypes that convert metals in end-of-life materials into usable products.
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About NSF TIP
The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) seeks to engage all Americans in accelerating critical and emerging technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. The directorate partners across sectors to advance three primary focus areas — accelerating technology translation and development, fostering regional innovation and economic growth and preparing the American workforce for better-quality, higher-wage jobs. For more information about NSF TIP, visit nsf.gov/tip/latest.
About SPRIND
SPRIND is Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation. SPRIND is a German federal company tasked with identifying, financing, and scaling groundbreaking innovations. Inspired by the U.S. DARPA, its main goal is to provide agile and proactive support for innovators that aim at creating innovations that will change our lives. Challenges are SPRIND's innovation competitions. They are tools that SPRIND uses to advance pioneering innovations. In competition with each other, the participating teams demonstrate which solution has what it takes to become a disruptive innovation.
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