Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity
About
Modification 0002 Annoucement (04/21/26): Extended LOI due date to 4/24/2026 Extended TA1 due date to 5/29/2026 Extended TA2 due date to 6/25/2026 Extended TA3 due date to 7/23/2026 Modification 0001 Announcement (04/15/26): Corrected units in Figure 3; Replaced instances of ‘FOA’ with ‘NOFO’ in Section D. Expected Performance Goals, Application Metrics; Corrected LOI character limit in Section IV. C. This Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) supports critical minerals and materials. Critical minerals and materials (CMM) are the building blocks for technologies foundational to U. S. energy dominance, national security, and industrial competitiveness. To build a secure domestic supply of CMMs, the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) aims to support collaborative industry partnerships to prototype and pilot innovative processing technologies that are currently only proven at the bench scale to address CMM challenges in high impact areas. The CMM Accelerator program will advance these mid-stage innovations through validation, benchmarking, access to national lab test beds, testing in industry relevant environments, technoeconomic analysis, and life-cycle assessment. The program establishes a pipeline to support technology maturation to ultimately unlock private capital investments. It also will leverage other DOE lab-based activities, such as the Critical Materials Innovation Hub (CMI Hub) and the Minerals to Materials Supply Chain Research Facility (METALLIC). Technologies resulting.
The Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is a U.S. Department of Energy program designed to support companies developing innovative processing technologies for critical minerals and materials (CMM). This program is ideal for businesses in collaborative industry partnerships working on mid-stage innovations that have been proven at the bench scale but need advancement to the pilot and prototype stage. Critical minerals and materials are essential building blocks for technologies that support U.S. energy dominance, national security, and industrial competitiveness. The Accelerator program provides funding, validation, benchmarking, access to national laboratory test beds, testing in industry-relevant environments, technoeconomic analysis, and life-cycle assessment support. By participating, companies gain the technical expertise and resources needed to mature their technologies and unlock private capital investments. The program leverages DOE lab-based activities including the Critical Materials Innovation Hub and the Minerals to Materials Supply Chain Research Facility (METALLIC). Entrepreneurs in the critical materials sector should apply to accelerate their technology development and establish a clear pathway to commercialization while accessing world-class DOE resources.
Funding Facts
● Applications openDeadline
July 23, 2026
Award Amount
$1 - $3M
Who can apply
Last verified July 5, 2026 · Source: Grants.gov
Grant Details
Grant Amount
$1 - $3M
Deadline
2026-07-23
Grant Type
federal
Application Cycle
Annual with multiple deadline phases (LOI and Technical Application stages)
Best For
Companies and collaborative industry partnerships developing critical minerals and materials processing technologies at mid-stage development
Eligibility
Please see section II.A. in the NOFO
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator Notice of Funding Opportunity?
Eligibility criteria are detailed in Section II.A of the official NOFO document. Generally, the program supports collaborative industry partnerships working on critical minerals and materials processing technologies. For specific eligibility requirements, applicants should consult the complete NOFO on the DOE website or contact the program directly.
How much funding does the Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator provide?
Funding amounts range from $1 million to $3 million per award. The exact amount available may vary depending on the specific track or technology area. Applicants should review the NOFO for details on funding allocation across different program tracks.
What are the application deadlines for this program?
Recent modifications have extended multiple deadline dates. The final deadline noted is July 23, 2026 (TA3). However, there are earlier milestones including Letter of Intent (LOI) deadlines and multiple Technical Application (TA) phases. Applicants should verify current deadlines on the official DOE NOFO announcement, as modifications may continue.
What can Critical Minerals and Materials Accelerator funding be used for?
Funding supports the advancement of mid-stage critical minerals and materials processing innovations through prototype and pilot development, validation, benchmarking, access to national laboratory test beds, testing in industry-relevant environments, technoeconomic analysis, and life-cycle assessment. The program is designed to help technologies mature from bench-scale proof-of-concept to commercialization-ready solutions.
Last updated: July 5, 2026