Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains Programme
This £15 million programme supports the development of resilient UK based supply chains for rare earth elements. With a focus on primary (mine to magnet) and secondary (End of Life to magnet) supply chains.
About the Programme
A wide range of critical minerals are essential to the UK’s transition to Net Zero, powering technologies across transport, energy, and industry. Electric vehicles, for example, rely on cobalt, lithium, and graphite for batteries, and rare earth elements for electric motors.
The Circular Critical Materials Supply Chains (CLIMATES) programme, launched by the Department for Business and Trade, supports the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy by strengthening supply chains for these vital resources. Focusing initially on critical minerals, rare earth elements and permanent magnets, CLIMATES promotes innovation from mine to end-of-life processes.
Through collaboration, skills, investment, policy, cafes and standards, the programme helps secure a sustainable and resilient critical materials ecosystem for the UK.
Focus Areas
FOCUS AREA
Mining and up-stream
Novel and sustainable mining processes, separation processes, management of by-products.
FOCUS AREA
Mid-stream
Sustainable mid-stream processes, increased process efficiency to metals, sustainable routes to rare earth alloys.
FOCUS AREA
Down-stream and magnet manufacture
Sustainable manufacturing routes to high performance magnets, increased specification of high-performance magnets.
FOCUS AREA
Circular Supply Chains
Collection and sorting of REE containing products, sustainable routes for processing recovered rare earth materials.
FOCUS AREA
Materials
Novel materials for high-performance magnets, substitution for high-performance magnets.
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CLIMATES Innovation Landscape Reports
Our five landscape reports explore the Rare Earth Elements (REE) value chain across both primary and secondary supply routes. Download the reports below to discover UK-led innovations, current capabilities, and emerging opportunities for growth.
The reports examine:
- Current state-of-the-art technologies in REE processing and recycling.
- Key UK organisations driving technological development and a mapping of national capability.
- Comparison of global and UK technologies and identification of collaboration opportunities.
- Required innovations for the UK to have a competitive advantage in the REE and rare earth permanent magnet (REPM) supply chains.
Related Opportunities
European Innovation Council: Pathfinder, Transition, and Accelerator 2026
Opens: 01/01/2026 Closes: 28/10/2026
Funding opportunities worth over €1.4 billion for strategic technologies and scaling up companies, with grants of up to €4m.
More Information
Innovation Exchange challenge: Catalyst Recycling for Sustainable Hydrogenation Processes
Opens: 12/01/2026 Closes: 27/02/2026
Seeking innovative solutions to reduce nickel catalyst consumption in hydrogenation processes by implementing an effective recycling / reuse system.
More Information
Critical material recovery from e-waste recycling process by-products
Opens: 16/02/2026 Closes: 31/03/2026
The challenge holder invites technology providers to propose solutions for recovering minor metals or metal salts from either a chloride media or an alkaline mixed metal precipitate produced from e-waste recycling.
More Information
Our Experts
Related Content
- Press release: Official government announcement: 27/02/23
- Webinar: Global expert mission on critical materials in Canada and the US dissemination event
- Webinar: Understanding the UK Supply Chain Opportunity in Materials for Permanent Magnets
- News: Findings from the Innovate UK global expert mission on critical materials
- News: EU project SCRREEN publishes report on the potential impact of critical raw materials on business continuity
- Programme: Innovation Exchange
- Sector: Driving the Electric Revolution
Private Investment Report
The Circular Critical Materials Supply Chain Programme’s Private Investment Report details the overarching opportunities and challenges faced by private investors when navigating investment in the rare earth supply chain. It features insights on equity funding activity across both the global and national supply chains to create a cohesive picture of the investment landscape.
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