Natural Resources Canada · Contribution program
Critical Mineral Research, Development and Demonstration Program
The Program's objective is to conduct targeted research and development for critical minerals. This will contribute to developing pilot plants and demonstration projects that will develop critical mineral value chains. The program will help advance the development of products, processes and technologies to the pre commercialization phase in Canada.
- Total value
- $147M
- Agreements
- 36
- Mar 2023 to Jun 2026
- Median agreement
- $4.3M
- Typical range
- $2.4M–$5M
- the middle half of agreements
Federal grants and contributions, agreements starting Jan 2006 to Oct 2026, each counted once at its latest amended value. Source: Treasury Board proactive disclosure, published October 11, 2026.
See every record for this program on the government’s search. How to apply: look up the program on Natural Resources Canada’s website.
Who got it
Organizations with the most funding under this program.
Plus 2 agreements ($14.3M) to individuals, sole proprietors and recipients this site does not name. They count in every total above. Why
By year
Agreements by the year they started.
| Year | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | $43.1M |
| 2024 | 14 | $58.7M |
| 2025 | 3 | $6.3M |
| 2026 | 3 | $38.5M |
By province
| Province or territory | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | 9 | $45.7M |
| Quebec | 9 | $39.5M |
| Ontario | 8 | $32M |
| Nova Scotia | 3 | $12.8M |
| Saskatchewan | 3 | $10.3M |
| Alberta | 4 | $6.3M |
By type of recipient
As the department classified the recipient.
| Recipient type | Agreements | Total |
|---|---|---|
| For-profit organizations | 31 | $128M |
| Government | 2 | $10M |
| Other organizations | 2 | $7.7M |
| Academia | 1 | $576K |
Latest agreements
| Start | Recipient | What for | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2026 | Mangrove Lithium | SPODUMENE PROCESSING PILOT AND LITHIUM CONVERSION PLANT ENGINEERING STUDYContribution | $21,883,900 |
| Feb 2026 | Telescope Innovations Corp. | A Route to Establish a Canadian Lithium Sulphide Supply Chain for Solid State BatteriesContribution | $3,039,344 |
| Dec 2025 | Exterra Technologies Inc. | Demonstration of Low Carbon Metal Recovery from Asbestos TailingsContribution | $5,000,000 |
| Dec 2025 | The Governors of the University of Alberta | Green Emulsion Liquid Membrane Selective Separation System for Nickel, Cobalt, and CopperContribution | $575,850 |
| Aug 2024 | Weber Manufacturing Technologies Inc. | RECOVERY OF NICKEL FROM RECYCLED BATTERIES AND NON-CONVENTIONAL FEEDSTOCKS VIA THE CARBONYL PROCESSContribution | $5,000,000 |
| Aug 2024 | Innova Hydrogen Corp. | CATALYTIC METHANE PYROLYSIS TO PRODUCE LOW EMISSION GRAPHITEContribution | $1,400,000 |
| Aug 2024 | Green Graphite Technologies Inc | RECYCLING OF GRAPHITE FROM SECONDARY SOURCES FOR USE IN LITHIUM-ION BATTERIESContribution | $3,500,000 |
| Aug 2024 | Coalia | SCALE-UP OF THE PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING LITHIUM FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCESContribution | $4,012,935 |
| Aug 2024 | Coalia | SCALE-UP OF THE PROCESS FOR EXTRACTING LITHIUM FROM PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SOURCESContribution | $3,657,544 |
| Jul 2024 | Cyclic Materials Inc. | KINGSTON DEMONSTRATION PLANT-EXTENDED OPERATIONSContribution | $4,893,125 |
| Jul 2024 | Saltworks Technologies Inc. | CANADIAN BRINE TO BATTERY CHEMICALS: SIMPLIFIED, LOWER COST, MORE SUSTAINABLEContribution | $4,937,500 |
| Jul 2024 | Noram Electrolysis Systems Inc. | ELECTROLYSIS FOR LITHIUM PRODUCTION AND RECYCLINGContribution | $4,500,000 |
| Jun 2024 | Electra Battery Materials Corporation | BLACK MASS RECYCLING PROJECTContribution | $1,897,638 |
| Jun 2024 | Electra Battery Materials Corporation | BLACK MASS RECYCLING PROJECTContribution | $5,000,000 |
| Jun 2024 | Electra Battery Materials Corporation | BLACK MASS RECYCLING PROJECTContribution | $5,000,000 |
| Jun 2024 | Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation | PILOTING OF BIOLEACHING PROCESS FOR RECOVERY OF BATTERY METALS (NI AND CO) FROM PYRRHOTITE TAILINGContribution | $5,000,000 |
| May 2024 | Lomiko Metals Inc | LA LOUTRE GRAPHITE UPGRADINGContribution | $4,941,590 |
| May 2024 | Lomiko Metals Inc | LA LOUTRE GRAPHITE UPGRADINGContribution | $4,941,590 |
| Nov 2023 | Fortune Minerals Limited | COBALT SULPHATE PROCESS PILOTContribution | $714,500 |
| Nov 2023 | Dumont Nickel Lp | TECHNICAL AND ECONOMICAL FEASIBILITY OF DUMONT NICKEL CONCENTRATEContribution | $4,493,889 |
| Nov 2023 | Ucore Rare Metals Inc. | RAPIDSX™ COMMERCIALIZATION DEMONSTRATION PLANTContribution | $4,275,848 |
| Nov 2023 | Ucore Rare Metals Inc. | RAPIDSX™ COMMERCIALIZATION DEMONSTRATION PLANTContribution | $4,275,848 |
| Nov 2023 | Ucore Rare Metals Inc. | RAPIDSX™ COMMERCIALIZATION DEMONSTRATION PLANTContribution | $4,275,848 |
| Oct 2023 | The Saskatchewan Research Council | SOLVENT EXTRACTION SEPARATION OF DYSPROSIUM AND TERBIUMContribution | $4,990,000 |
| Oct 2023 | The Saskatchewan Research Council | SOLVENT EXTRACTION SEPARATION OF DYSPROSIUM AND TERBIUMContribution | $4,990,000 |