UAF critical minerals proposal a finalist for NSF funding

A University of Alaska Fairbanks proposal to reduce the United States’ dependency on foreign sources of minerals critical to the technology and defense industries has been named one of 15 finalists in a National Science Foundation competition.

UAF’s proposal would establish the Alaska Critical Mineral Accelerator at the UAF Geophysical Institute and could bring over 10 years of funding through the NSF’s Regional Innovation Engines program.

The NSF announced the finalists Thursday in Washington, D.C., in conjunction with a display by representatives of the finalists to members of Congress and congressional aides.

“Alaska is experienced and is ready to lead and deliver,” said Lee Ann Munk, director of the Geophysical Institute’s Alaska Critical Minerals Collaborative and lead investigator on the proposal. “Alaska is strategically essential to American critical mineral independence.”

The Alaska Critical Mineral Accelerator aims to bring resources to the state and university to make Alaska a leader in supporting an emerging U.S. critical minerals mining industry. Partners in the proposal include state and federal agencies, mining companies and organizations, other universities, tech start-ups, venture capitalists, non-profits and Alaska Native corporations.

Alaska contains 51 of 54 minerals on the U.S. Geological Survey’s draft list of critical minerals, released in August. The United States was fully reliant on foreign sources for several of the minerals and relied on foreign sources for more than half of its needs for many others.

“We are confident we can meet the nation’s needs as spelled out in recent White House executive orders,” Munk said upon learning UAF’s proposal is a finalist. “Our partners in this project are eager to make it happen.”

The NSF received 294 applications for the second round of its Regional Innovation Engines program. It accepted 71 of those and named 29 semifinalists in early July. Semifinalists underwent a live virtual assessment.

Finalists will next be subjected to a site visit by NSF staff.

"The NSF Engines finalists have consistently communicated their strong vision for placing their regions on the map as the national and world leaders in key technologies, demonstrating their commitment to advancing U.S. research, innovation and workforce development,” said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director.

The Regional Innovation Engines program aims to accelerate technology development, address societal challenges and stimulate economic growth, particularly in regions that have not fully participated in technology booms. 

The program provides up to 10 years of funding per proposal, with the option to get two years of funding for planning. The program’s first awards were made in January 2024.

Additional funding for the program, including funding for the current proposals, is contingent on Congress and the White House providing enough money to the NSF to sustain the program.