The US National Science Foundation (NSF) has selected the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine, led by the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), to receive up to $160 million to develop a regional ecosystem for producing the metals and advanced materials that go into batteries, semiconductors, aircraft engine parts and medical devices.
UMKC says the US imports most of the critical materials essential to modern life and that China dominates large portions of the global supply chain.
Battery manufacturer EaglePicher Technologies, which serves the defense and aerospace industries, says it will be a key partner in the development and commercialization of domestically produced battery materials.
“This NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine will be a substantial resource in the Midwest to onshore and sustain production capacity for critical minerals used across the transportation, energy, communication and national security sectors,” said Brian Stone, who is performing the duties of the NSF director.
“For decades, the United States has steadily lost much of the workforce, infrastructure and manufacturing capacity required for critical materials production,” said Anthony Caruso, UMKC’s Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives. “This investment allows us to rebuild that capability here in America.”
Source: UMKC
