The critical materials accelerator aims to validate and prototype technologies and processes that address critical materials challenges by developing alternatives, diversifying and expanding supply,…

The Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy awarded Niron Magnetics Inc. a $3,024,763 cooperative agreement on October 1, 2025, under the Conservation Research and Development program (CFDA 81.086) to develop magnets with reduced critical materials content.

Niron Magnetics, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, specializes in rare-earth-free permanent magnet technology. The award funds work on alternative magnetic materials designed to address critical materials supply chain gaps identified by the Critical Materials Collaborative. The project aligns with the Critical Materials Accelerator initiative, which aims to de-risk innovation in critical materials manufacturing, reduce demand through alternative materials and technologies, and advance secure and sustainable domestic supply chains for clean energy applications.

The period of performance extends through March 31, 2027. Work is performed in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The critical materials accelerator aims to validate and prototype technologies and processes that address critical materials challenges by developing alternatives, diversifying and expanding supply, increasing manufacturing and material efficiency, and establishing a circular economy. The accelerator intends to speed up the adoption of innovation while promoting safe, sustainable, economic, and environmentally just solutions to meet current and future critical materials supply chain needs. This FOA solicits proposals that advance innovation to realize the department's critical minerals and materials vision of a reliable, resilient, affordable, diverse, sustainable, and secure domestic supply chains for the clean energy economy. Projects funded under this FOA will DE-risk innovation and mature technology development in partnership with industry to reduce demand through alternative materials or technologies, extend the lifetime of critical materials, and advance secure and sustainable critical materials manufacturing technologies. Each topic area of the FOA addresses priority technologies and supply chain gaps identified by the critical materials collaborative. Topics include: topic 1 - use of magnets with reduced critical materials content topic 2 - improved unit operations of processing and manufacturing of critical materials topic 3 - critical material recovery from scrap and post-consumer products topic 4 - reduced critical material demand for clean energy technologies MOD 0001: revised section III.b. Cost sharing. The exchange system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for concept paper and full application submissions. The apply and submit buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants. Applicants that experience issues with submissions prior to the FOA deadline: in the event that an applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the applicant should contact the exchange helpdesk for assistance (