 NSF kicks off U.S. critical minerals challenge to propel innovative critical mineral technology translation
The U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) announced the launch of STRIDE Ventures, a new initiative operated by the Start2 Group to advance innovations that reinforce U.S. technological leadership, economic security and industrial resilience. STRIDE will enable NSF to experiment with new models of innovation funding — connecting researchers to urgent national challenges and accelerating the path from discovery to deployment.
The first funding opportunity of STRIDE Ventures will be the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, which seeks to strengthen the U.S. supply chain for critical and strategic metals by developing breakthrough technologies. These metals form the backbone of modern industry, powering energy systems, defense technologies, advanced manufacturing and the digital economy. Yet access to many of these essential materials remains highly concentrated in a few producing regions, leaving domestic industries vulnerable to geopolitical and logistical disruptions.
"Semiconductors, smartphones, magnets and other essential technologies that underpin U.S. economic and industrial strength rely on an increasingly scarce supply of critical minerals," said Erwin Gianchandani, assistant director for NSF TIP. "NSF's investment in the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge will help address this national security imperative and deliver on the administration's focus on strengthening domestic supplies of critical minerals."
The challenge calls for bold, interdisciplinary innovation that integrates biological, chemical and physical-mechanical processes to close this gap. Competing teams will design and demonstrate end-to-end prototype systems that can extract, convert and return metals from complex domestic waste streams into high-performance materials for advanced manufacturing.
By developing processes that can transform secondary and unconventional sources into functional metals, the challenge aims to open an innovation-driven model for domestic materials security and build a resilient foundation for future industries.
The multiyear, three-stage program was co-designed with and running in parallel to Germany's SPRIND Tech Metal Challenge. Supported by tiered funding and expert guidance, these programs will advance breakthrough innovations from research and development to market validation, scale-up and deployment.
SPRIND is the German Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation, which sponsors innovation competitions to identify the most effective approaches and solutions to complex challenges. "NSF is proud of our engagement with SPRIND," said Jessica Robin, head of the NSF Office of International Science and Engineering, "Collaborating with international partners unleashes world-class talent and innovative approaches to address worldwide problems."
To support potential applicants, STRIDE Ventures will host a series of informational webinars introducing the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, its goals, structure and application process. These sessions will provide an opportunity to engage with program staff and ask questions.
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Webinar 1: Thurs., Dec. 11, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST
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Webinar 2: Thurs., Dec. 18, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST
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Webinar 3: Thurs., Jan. 8, 2026, at 2 p.m. EST
Registration is required. Please sign up and receive access details.
To learn more, visit the STRIDE Ventures website or email TechMetal@nsf.gov.
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