NOFO_ DE-FOA-0003590_MAGNITO.pdf

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

AR-311-05.25

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY

ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY – ENERGY (ARPA-E)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

MAGNETIC ACCELERATION GENERATING NEW

INNOVATIONS AND TACTICAL OUTCOMES

(MAGNITO)

Announcement Type: Initial Announcement Notice of Funding Opportunity No. DE-FOA-0003590

Assistance Listing Number 81.135

NOFOs are posted on ARPA-E eXCHANGE (https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/), Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/), and FedConnect (https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/). Any modifications to the NOFO are also posted to these websites. You can receive an e-mail when a modification is posted by registering with FedConnect as an interested party for this NOFO. It is recommended that you register as soon as possible after release of the NOFO to ensure that you receive timely notice of any modifications or other announcements.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov https://arpa-e-foa.energy.gov/ http://www.grants.gov/ https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BASIC INFORMATION ......................................................................................................................................- 5 -

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION ...................................................................................................- 7 -

A. AGENCY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................... - 7 - B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................ - 9 -

1. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................. - 9 -

2. TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES ........................................................................................................................ - 10 -

C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES ................................................................................................................................ - 11 - D. TECHNICAL AREAS OF INTEREST ..................................................................................................................... - 12 - E. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS .................................................................................................................. - 14 - F. STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL INVOLVEMENT ....................................................................................................... - 14 - G. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS............................................................................................................................... - 15 -

1. ALLOWABLE COSTS .................................................................................................................................... - 15 -

2. PRE-AWARD COSTS ................................................................................................................................... - 16 -

3. PATENT COSTS .......................................................................................................................................... - 16 -

4. CONSTRUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... - 16 -

5. FOREIGN TRAVEL ....................................................................................................................................... - 16 -

6. PERFORMANCE OF WORK IN THE UNITED STATES ............................................................................................ - 16 -

7. PURCHASE OF NEW EQUIPMENT .................................................................................................................. - 17 -

8. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND OUTREACH ...................................................................................................... - 17 -

9. LOBBYING ................................................................................................................................................ - 17 -

10. CONFERENCE SPENDING ............................................................................................................................. - 18 -

11. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COSTS....................................................................................... - 18 -

12. BUY AMERICA REQUIREMENT FOR PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS .............................................................. - 19 -

13. REQUIREMENT FOR FINANCIAL PERSONNEL .................................................................................................... - 19 -

14. PARTICIPANTS, COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS, AND CURRENT AND PENDING SUPPORT ................................... - 20 -

15. MAXIMUM LIMIT ON INDIRECT COSTS .......................................................................................................... - 20 -

II. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION .................................................................................................................... - 21 -

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS ....................................................................................................................................... - 21 -

1. INDIVIDUALS ............................................................................................................................................. - 21 -

2. DOMESTIC ENTITIES ................................................................................................................................... - 21 -

3. CONSORTIA .............................................................................................................................................. - 22 -

4. FOREIGN NATIONAL PARTICIPATION FROM COUNTRIES OF CONCERN ................................................................. - 22 -

5. FOREIGN PARTICIPATION CONSIDERATIONS ................................................................................................... - 23 -

B. COMPLIANCE AND RESPONSIVENESS ................................................................................................................... - 23 - C. LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF SUBMISSIONS ..................................................................................................... - 23 - D. COST SHARING ........................................................................................................................................... - 24 -

1. BASE COST SHARE REQUIREMENT ................................................................................................................ - 24 -

2. INCREASED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT ........................................................................................................ - 24 -

3. REDUCED COST SHARE REQUIREMENT .......................................................................................................... - 24 -

4. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY ............................................................................................................................... - 25 -

5. COST SHARE ALLOCATION ........................................................................................................................... - 25 -

6. COST SHARE TYPES AND ALLOWABILITY ........................................................................................................ - 25 -

7. COST SHARE CONTRIBUTIONS BY FFRDCS AND GOGOS .................................................................................. - 26 -

8. COST SHARE VERIFICATION ......................................................................................................................... - 27 -

III. APPLICATION CONTENTS AND FORMAT ............................................................................................ - 28 -

A. GENERAL APPLICATION CONTENT REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................ - 28 -

1. MARKING OF CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................... - 28 -

2. EXPORT CONTROL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................. - 28 -https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

B. CONCEPT PAPERS ............................................................................................................................................ - 29 -

1. FIRST COMPONENT: CONCEPT PAPER............................................................................................................ - 29 -

2. SECOND COMPONENT: SUMMARY SLIDE ....................................................................................................... - 29 -

C. FULL APPLICATIONS .................................................................................................................................... - 30 -

1. FIRST COMPONENT: TECHNICAL VOLUME ...................................................................................................... - 30 -

2. SECOND COMPONENT: SF-424 ................................................................................................................... - 30 -

3. THIRD COMPONENT: BUDGET JUSTIFICATION WORKBOOK/SF-424A ................................................................ - 31 -

4. FOURTH COMPONENT: SUMMARY FOR PUBLIC RELEASE .................................................................................. - 31 -

5. FIFTH COMPONENT: SUMMARY SLIDE ........................................................................................................... - 32 -

6. SIXTH COMPONENT: BUSINESS ASSURANCES & DISCLOSURES FORM .................................................................. - 32 -

D. REPLIES TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................ - 32 -

IV. SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND DEADLINES ................................................................................. - 34 -

A. UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER AND SAM REGISTRATION ........................................................................................... - 34 - B. USE OF ARPA-E EXCHANGE .......................................................................................................................... - 35 - C. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST AND DEADLINES ......................................................................................... - 36 - D. COMPLIANCE ............................................................................................................................................. - 36 - E. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW ......................................................................................................................... - 37 -

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION ................................................................................................... - 38 -

A. RESPONSIVENESS ............................................................................................................................................ - 38 -

1. TECHNICAL RESPONSIVENESS REVIEW ........................................................................................................... - 38 -

2. SUBMISSIONS SPECIFICALLY NOT OF INTEREST ................................................................................................. - 38 -

B. REVIEW CRITERIA ............................................................................................................................................ - 39 -

1. CRITERIA FOR CONCEPT PAPERS ................................................................................................................... - 39 -

2. CRITERIA FOR FULL APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................ - 40 -

3. CRITERIA FOR REPLIES TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ............................................................................................ - 41 -

C. PROGRAM POLICY FACTORS ......................................................................................................................... - 41 - D. REVIEW AND SELECTION PROCESS ................................................................................................................. - 42 -

1. CONCEPT PAPERS ...................................................................................................................................... - 42 -

2. FULL APPLICATIONS ................................................................................................................................... - 42 -

3. REPLY TO REVIEWER COMMENTS ................................................................................................................. - 42 -

4. PRE-SELECTION CLARIFICATIONS AND “DOWN-SELECT” PROCESS ...................................................................... - 43 -

5. SELECTION FOR AWARD NEGOTIATIONS ........................................................................................................ - 43 -

E. ARPA-E REVIEWERS ....................................................................................................................................... - 43 - F. ARPA-E SUPPORT CONTRACTORS ..................................................................................................................... - 44 - G. RISK REVIEW.............................................................................................................................................. - 44 - H. DUE DILIGENCE REVIEW FOR RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ................................................. - 45 -

VI. AWARD NOTICES AND AWARD TYPES ............................................................................................... - 47 -

A. AWARD NOTICES ............................................................................................................................................ - 47 -

1. REJECTED SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................................................................. - 47 -

2. CONCEPT PAPER NOTIFICATIONS .................................................................................................................. - 47 -

3. FULL APPLICATION NOTIFICATIONS ............................................................................................................... - 47 -

B. PRE-AWARD COSTS ......................................................................................................................................... - 48 - C. RENEWAL AWARDS ..................................................................................................................................... - 49 - D. FUNDING AGREEMENT TYPES ....................................................................................................................... - 49 -

1. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS........................................................................................................................ - 49 -

2. FUNDING AGREEMENTS WITH FFRDCS/DOE LABS, GOGOS, AND FEDERAL INSTRUMENTALITIES .......................... - 49 -

3. OTHER TRANSACTIONS AUTHORITY .............................................................................................................. - 50 -

VII. POST-AWARD REQUIREMENTS AND ADMINISTRATION ..................................................................... - 51 -

A. NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS .................................................................................................................... - 51 -https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

1. NATIONAL POLICY ASSURANCES ................................................................................................................... - 51 -

2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT QUESTIONNAIRE ................................................................................................... - 51 -

B. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................... - 52 -

1. COST SHARE PAYMENTS ............................................................................................................................. - 52 -

2. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DATA MANAGEMENT PLANS ............................................................................. - 52 -

3. U.S. COMPETITIVENESS .............................................................................................................................. - 53 -

4. NONDISCLOSURE AND CONFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENTS REPRESENTATIONS .......................................................... - 54 -

5. INTERIM CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE .................................................................. - 55 -

6. COMPLIANCE AUDIT REQUIREMENT .............................................................................................................. - 55 -

7. RESEARCH SECURITY TRAINING REQUIREMENT ............................................................................................... - 56 -

C. REPORTING ................................................................................................................................................ - 56 -

1. FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE ....................................................................................................................... - 56 -

2. COMMERCIALIZATION PLAN AND SOFTWARE REPORTING ................................................................................. - 56 -

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION ...................................................................................................................... - 57 -

A. TITLE TO SUBJECT INVENTIONS .......................................................................................................................... - 57 - B. GOVERNMENT RIGHTS IN SUBJECT INVENTIONS ................................................................................................... - 57 -

1. GOVERNMENT USE LICENSE ........................................................................................................................ - 58 -

2. MARCH-IN RIGHTS .................................................................................................................................... - 58 -

C. RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA ......................................................................................................................... - 58 - D. PROTECTED PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ...................................................................................... - 59 -

IX. GLOSSARY ........................................................................................................................................ - 60 -https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 5 -

BASIC INFORMATION

KEY DATES:

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Issue Date: August 25, 2025

Deadline for Concept Paper Questions to ARPA-E- CO@hq.doe.gov:

5 PM ET, September 15, Submission Deadline for Concept Papers: 9:30 AM ET, September 24, Anticipated Date for Encourage/Discourage Notifications: 5 PM ET, October 28, 2025

Deadline for Full Application Questions to ARPA-E- CO@hq.doe.gov:

5 PM ET, TBD

Submission Deadline for Full Applications: 9:30 AM ET, TBD

Expected Reviewer Comment Release Date: 5 PM ET, TBD

Submission Deadline for Replies to Reviewer Comments: 5 PM ET, TBD

Anticipated Timeframe for Selection Notifications: February 2026

Anticipated Timeframe for Award: June 2026

Anticipated Period of Performance: June 2026 – June 2029

BASIC INFORMATION:

Total Amount to Be Awarded

Approximately $20 million, subject to the availability of appropriated funds to be shared between NOFOs DE-FOA-0003590 and DE-FOA-0003591.

Anticipated Number and Value of Awards

ARPA-E anticipates making approximately 6-10 awards between NOFOs DE-FOA-0003590 and DE-FOA-0003591. ARPA-E may issue one, multiple, or no awards under this NOFO. The Federal share of awards under this NOFO may vary between $500,000 and $3 million.

Agency Contact Information

• Questions and answers (Q&As) about ARPA-E and this specific NOFO:

http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq.

• Send other questions about the NOFO to: ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov.

• Send questions about use of ARPA-E eXCHANGE to:

ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov.

Upon the issuance of a NOFO, only the Grants Officer via ARPA-E- CO@hq.doe.gov may communicate with Applicants. This “quiet period” remains in effect until ARPA-E’s public announcement of project selections.

Emails sent to other email addresses will be disregarded.

Most electricity is produced—and a large fraction of electricity is consumed—using electric generators and motors with magnets that are large, heavy, and use many critical resources.1 This presents a clear opportunity for ARPA-E to radically change energy usage in a major sector of the U.S. economy. This NOFO seeks the discovery and development of stronger magnets to improve energy productivity, reduce the cost of electricity generation, and enable smaller, lighter motors for American industry and transportation while working to reduce reliance on foreign materials.

1 H. Faulkner and S. Holt, Walking the Torgue: Proposed work plan for energy-efficiency policy opportunities for electric motor drive systems, International Energy Agency (2011) 7 https://www.iea.org/reports/walking-the-torque https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov http://arpa-e.energy.gov/faq mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 6 -

Electric motors are used in many consumer goods, across manufacturing, transportation, and agriculture industries. Machine drives, such as pumps, fans, and compressors, account for about half of industrial electricity use.2 Electric motors and the systems they power are the single largest electrical end-use.

Using permanent magnets in motors improves productivity because electricity is not required to produce the magnetic field. A stronger magnetic field improves the torque density within the motor and enables smaller motor designs, reducing weight and improving system efficiency. The strongest type of permanent magnet made today–and the most widely used–are alloys of rare earth elements such as neodymium-iron-boron (Nd2Fe14B) and samarium-cobalt (Sm2Co17 and SmCo5). More powerful magnets than these can substantially improve the efficiency and reduce the size and weight of systems that rely on electromagnets today.

The Magnetic Acceleration Generating New Innovations and Tactical Outcomes (MAGNITO) program focuses on the discovery of new and more powerful magnets than the state-of-the-art. More powerful magnet materials are expected to reduce and/or diversify the critical minerals needed for motor systems and generator systems and reduce the stress on the supply chain. Applicants are expected and encouraged to capitalize on advances in artificial intelligence, computational physics, solid-state chemistry, and novel, high-throughput materials fabrication and characterization technologies.

2 U.S. Department of Energy, Improving Motor and Drive System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry (2014) 3, https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/04/f15/amo_motors_sourcebook_web.pdf https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 7 -

I. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY DESCRIPTION

A. AGENCY OVERVIEW

The Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), an organization within the Department of Energy (DOE), is chartered by Congress in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69), as amended by the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-358), as further amended by the Energy Act of 2020 (P.L. 116- 260):

“(A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that—

(i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources;

(ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases;

(iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors;

(iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and

(v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and

(B) to ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy technologies.”

ARPA-E issues this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) under its authorizing statute codified at 42 U.S.C. § 16538. The NOFO and any cooperative agreements or grants made under this NOFO are subject to 2 C.F.R. Part 200 as supplemented by 2 C.F.R.

Part 910.

ARPA-E funds research on, and the development of, transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department. The agency focuses on technologies that can be meaningfully advanced with a modest investment over a defined period of time in order to catalyze the translation from scientific discovery to early-stage technology. For the latest news and information about ARPA-E, its programs and the research projects currently supported, see: http://arpa-e.energy.gov/.

ARPA-E funds transformational research. Existing energy technologies generally progress on established “learning curves” where refinements to a technology and the economies of scale that accrue as manufacturing and distribution develop drive improvements to the cost/performance metric in a gradual fashion. This continual improvement of a technology is important to its increased commercial deployment and is appropriately the focus of the private sector or the applied technology offices within DOE. In contrast, ARPA-E supports transformative research that has the potential to create fundamentally new learning curves. ARPA-E technology projects typically start with cost/performance estimates well above the level of an incumbent technology.

Given the high risk inherent in these projects, many will fail to progress, but some may succeed in generating a new learning curve with a projected cost/performance metric https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov http://arpa-e.energy.gov/

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 8 -that is significantly better than that of the incumbent technology. ARPA-E will provide support at the highest funding level only for submissions with significant technology risk, aggressive timetables, and careful management and mitigation of the associated risks.

ARPA-E funds technology with the potential to be disruptive in the marketplace.

The mere creation of a new learning curve does not ensure market penetration. Rather, the ultimate value of a technology is determined by the marketplace, and impactful technologies ultimately become disruptive – that is, they are widely adopted and displace existing technologies from the marketplace or create entirely new markets.

ARPA-E understands that definitive proof of market disruption takes time, particularly for energy technologies. Therefore, ARPA-E funds the development of technologies that, if technically successful, have clear disruptive potential, e.g., by demonstrating capability for manufacturing at competitive cost and deployment at scale.

ARPA-E funds applied research and development (R&D). The Office of Management and Budget defines “applied research” as an “original investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge…directed primarily towards a specific practical aim or objective” and defines “experimental development” as “creative and systematic work, drawing on knowledge gained from research and practical experience, which is directed at producing new products or processes or improving existing products or processes.”3 Applicants interested in receiving financial assistance for basic research (defined by the Office of Management and Budget as “experimental or theoretical work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge of the underlying foundations of phenomena and observable facts”)1 should contact the DOE’s Office of Science (http://science.energy.gov/). Office of Science national scientific user facilities (http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/) are open to all researchers, including ARPA-E Applicants and awardees. These facilities provide advanced tools of modern science including accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, as well as facilities for studying the nanoworld, the environment, and the atmosphere.

Projects focused on early-stage R&D for the improvement of technology along defined roadmaps may be more appropriate for support through the DOE applied energy offices including: the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (http://www.eere.energy.gov/), the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management), the Office of Nuclear Energy (http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy), and the Office of Electricity (https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity).

ARPA-E encourages submissions stemming from ideas that still require proof-of-concept R&D efforts as well as those for which some proof-of-concept demonstration already exists. Submissions can propose a project with the end deliverable being an extremely creative, but partial solution.

3 OMB Circular A-11 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/a11_web_toc.pdf), Section 84, pg. 3.

mailto:ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov mailto:ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov http://science.energy.gov/ http://science.energy.gov/user-facilities/ http://www.eere.energy.gov/ https://www.energy.gov/fecm/office-fossil-energy-and-carbon-management http://www.energy.gov/ne/office-nuclear-energy https://www.energy.gov/oe/office-electricity

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 9 -

B. PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1. TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

Magnetism is one of the most complex yet fundamental forces in nature, and powerful magnets are needed for numerous essential industrial, electronics, power, and transportation applications. Both hard (permanent) magnets and soft magnets are needed for applications such as high-power density motors for drones and robots, and for electrical devices such as high-performance transformers and inductors.

Permanent magnetic materials inherently create a magnetic field with no energy input.

This is opposed to electromagnets which use coils of copper wire and require an electric current to induce a magnetic field. This inherent difference makes permanent magnet generators and motors smaller and lighter as well as more efficient than those using electromagnets which suffer from resistive losses in the copper coils.4 Similarly, soft magnets can enhance performance and reduce the size of transformers, inductors, motors, and generators.

The maximum magnetic field produced by a magnet is determined by the saturation magnetization, Bsat, which can be measured in Tesla (T) and is approximately proportional to the density of unpaired electron spins.5 Many magnetic materials are made up of iron, cobalt, or nickel-based alloys or oxides that have at most two unpaired spins per atom. Given that there are many atoms with five or more unpaired electron spins, a higher Bsat than the state of the art should be possible.

Many applications require permanent magnets with high coercivity, Hc, and high Bsat.

The most widely used metric to qualify a magnet’s performance is the maximum energy product defined as B x H, or (BH)max. Here, B is the magnetic field strength (also called magnetic flux density) measured in Tesla and H is the magnetizing field strength measured in amperes per meter.6 The strength of magnetic materials as well as the motor power density have increased over time through materials discovery and engineering (see Figure 1).7 This trend indicates that the discovery of ultra-high power magnets has the potential to achieve a breakthrough in motor power density.

4 K.T. Butler, D.W. Davies, H. Cartwright, O. Isayev, and A. Walsh, “Machine learning for molecular and materials science,” Nature 559 (2018): 547-555, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-018-0337-2.

5 The magnetic field (B) can be reported in units of Gauss. Applicants should use Tesla.

6 The maximum energy product ((BH)max) can also be reported in units of megaGauss-Oersteds, or MGOe.

Applicants should use kJ/m3. The magnetic field strength (H) can also be reported in Oersteds. Applicants should use amperes per meter.

7 S. Sakama, Y. Tanaka, and A. Kamimura, “Characteristics of Hydraulic and Electric Servo Motors,” Actuators 11,

no. 1 (2022): https://doi.org/10.3390/act11010011 https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 10 -

Figure 1. The progress of electric motor power density (right axis) follows the development of stronger permanent magnets (left axis). Figure created using data from footnote 7.

2. TECHNICAL OPPORTUNITIES

In the 1980s, the rare earth magnet neodymium iron boron (Nd2Fe14B) was discovered, revolutionizing the magnet industry and enabling new technologies such as magnetic hard drives, high-performance motors for drones, low-cost magnetic resonance imaging, and separation of magnetic from non-magnetic materials. While there have been incremental improvements by optimizing process techniques, no new magnetic materials with higher performance than Nd2Fe14B have since been discovered. Instead, much of the research on magnetic materials in the past 30 years has focused on reducing the amount of rare earth elements needed in known magnets.8

Nd₂Fe₁₄B has a complex crystal structure and chemistry; its composition is made up of mostly iron between layers of neodymium and interstitial boron coordinated to a trigonal prism of iron atoms. These layers make an inherently anisotropic structure which enables a high (BH)max, and therefore an effective permanent, or “hard”, magnet.

Currently, the permanent magnet market is dominated (60%) by magnets based on Nd2Fe14B that exhibit the highest (BH)max of any hard magnet, about 400 kilojoules per meter cubed (kJ/m³).9 The best soft magnets today exhibit a saturation magnetization, Bsat, of about 2 Tesla. Doubling the (BH)max (to 800 kJ/m³) or increasing the Bsat (above 2.5 Tesla) would enable new ultra-high performance applications and

8 For example, ARPA-E’s Rare Earth Alternatives in Critical Technologies (REACT), accessed August 25, 2025, at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/programs-and-initiatives/view-all-programs/react.

9 O. Gutfleisch, M.A. Willard, E. Bruch, C.H. Chen, S.G. Sankar, and J.P. Liu, “Magnetic Materials and Devices for the 21st Century: Stronger, Lighter, and More Energy Efficient,” Advanced Materials 23, no. 7 (2010): 821-842, https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201002180.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

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- 11 -revolutionize U.S. industry. To achieve either of these metrics, new magnetic materials must be discovered.

Undiscovered, ultra-powerful magnetic materials are likely to have complex chemistries with three or more elements and pronounced anisotropy. Formulation of these compounds will require expertise in solid state chemistry not only for synthesis but also to help guide materials discovery by identifying promising structural motifs.

The physics of magnetic exchange interactions necessary for ferromagnetism is also too complex for simple optimization, and is expected to benefit from high-throughput computational methods for promising structural and chemical motifs.

C. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

The objective of the Magnetic Acceleration Generating New Innovations and Tactical Outcomes (MAGNITO) program is to support the discovery, synthesis, and characterization of new, more powerful magnets with either a saturation magnetization or maximum energy product higher than that of any known material. This entails finding entirely new physics, chemistries, and structure for ultra-powerful soft and/or hard magnets. The discovery of Nd2Fe14B, with its complex structural chemistry and extraordinary properties, suggests that other complex magnetic materials with three or more distinct elements, and similar chemical and structural features, are waiting to be discovered.

Advances in computational physics that can calculate Bsat, magneto-crystalline anisotropy, and Curie temperature (TC), as well as computational materials discovery using high-throughput techniques, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning (ML), are needed to reveal new materials structures not previously examined and at a pace faster than ever before.

To achieve effective materials discovery, ARPA-E anticipates successful applicants will comprise teams with various expertise such as:

• Computational materials discovery, e.g., high-throughput computation, AI/ML, generation of new structures, thermodynamic stability models, and phase diagrams;

• Solid state chemistry, high-throughput synthesis and characterization of new phases, including (but not limited to) specialized ability in subnitrides, high temperature borides, and carbides;

• Magnetism physics and computational methods;

• Magnetic measurement and interpretation of data, including hysteresis curves;

high-throughput autonomous laboratories; and

• Potential applications of ultra-powerful magnets.

While ARPA-E does not anticipate an active role for application engineering in this program’s materials discovery projects, all applicants must consider manufacturing and cost during their materials searches. Applicants should identify a potential https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 12 -application or market for their new magnetic materials and ensure that the new material can meet the performance requirements. For example, some motor applications require a Curie temperature greater than 200°C.10 Applicants should also discuss the supply chain for their new magnetic materials and perform a technoeconomic analysis for the new magnets which considers feedstock supply availability and manufacturing process scalability. For example, most magnet applications will require the ability to mass produce pellets of magnetic material, hence the need to consider any future constraints in this area. In addition, owing to the wide range of potential applications for ultra-strong magnets, ARPA-E encourages applicants to include both common and specialty elements in their search for new magnetic materials.

D. TECHNICAL AREAS OF INTEREST

As the number of elements in a compound increases, the number of possible structures grows exponentially.11 While all elements and most binary (two-element) compounds have been discovered and their magnetic properties characterized, it is estimated that only a fraction of ternary (three-element) compounds have been studied while most of the billions of 4- and 5-element compounds are yet unknown. Searching through this very large space is now becoming possible through the advent of AI/ML and advanced computational techniques that can predict stability of millions of new compounds and magnetic properties before a material is even synthesized.12,13 The space is so large, however, that an effective search must be focused, requiring insight into the physics, chemistry, and thermodynamics as well as the materials science of magnets.

Recent technological advances have the potential to dramatically accelerate new magnet discovery. The MAGNITO program is not broken down into specific technical categories; rather, ARPA-E is interested in applications that explore the integration of many or most of these advances into one project. Some of the major advances (or ‘technical areas’) of interest include the following:

• The emergence of AI/ML has shown tremendous potential to accelerate materials discovery. Several groups have now demonstrated the ability to generate new, stable crystalline structures computationally. An integrated computational materials engineering (ICME) framework that combines AI/ML with experimental, computational, and data science could be used to design new magnetic materials. ICME has seen success primarily in structural materials, using atomistic and multiscale modeling to engineer the microstructure

10 J. Cui, J. Ormerod, D. Parker, R. Ott, A. Palasyuk, S. Mccall, M.P. Paranthaman, M.S. Kesler, M.A. McGuire, I.C.

Nlebedim, C. Pan, T. Lograsso, “Manufacturing Processes for Permanent Magnets: Part I—Sintering and Casting,” JOM 74, (2022): 1279-1295, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05156-9. Also see references in footnotes 9 and 19.

11 H. Park, A. Onwuli, K.T. Butler, and A. Walsh, “Mapping inorganic crystal chemical space,” Faraday Discussions 256 (2025): https://doi.org/10.1039/D4FD00063C.

12 A. Merchant, S. Batzner, S.S. Schoenholz. et al., “Scaling deep learning for materials discovery,” Nature 624 (2023), 80–85. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06735-9.

13 C. Zeni, R. Pinsler, D. Zügner, et al., “A generative model for inorganic materials design,” Nature 639 (2025), 624–

632. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08628-5.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 13 -necessary for high magnetic coercivity. Integrating computation of new structures, calculation of magnetic properties, and thermodynamic stability could identify new promising magnetic materials, while microstructure engineering for coercivity (typically to ¼ of the anisotropy field) and manufacturability could begin after material systems are confirmed experimentally.

• Recent advances in computational physics can now predict the essential magnetic properties of hypothetical materials, making high-throughput computational searches possible.14 The stability of known, magnetic structures with different compositions can now be calculated with high fidelity, and some high-throughput results and phase diagrams are even available in public databases.15 Calculating different configurations enables estimation of magnetocrystalline anisotropy and local interatomic exchange energy, which allows estimation of the anisotropy field (an upper bound for the coercivity) and Tc. While less accurate, calculations of structures containing rare earth elements are also now possible.16

• Advances in correlated electron theory could lead to fresh approaches to design magnetic materials. Many new magnetic states have recently been discovered, such as altermagnets, skyrmions, and other correlated electron phenomena.17 Explaining their properties has required the development of advanced computational methods (e.g., Dynamic Mean Field Theory) that can be applied to simpler systems such as technologically useful ferro-, and ferri-magnets, and the common competing antiferromagnetic phases.18

• A number of promising chemistries exist in which the intrinsic magnetic properties (saturation moment and anisotropy field) may exceed that of known magnetic materials. New structures, such as subnitride-based,19,20 carbide-

14 J.J. de Pablo, N.E.Jackson, M.A.Webb, et al., “New Frontiers for the Materials Genome Initiative,” Computational Materials 5, no. 41 (2019), https://doi.org/10.1038/s41524-019-0173-4 15 Some useful public databases include the Open Quantum Materials Database (OQMD) at https://oqmd.org/ and Materials Project at https://materialssciences.lbl.gov/research/research-programs/materials-project/.

16 H. Zhang, “High-throughput design of magnetic materials,” Electronic Structure 3, no. 3 (2021): http:// 10.1088/2516-1075/abbb25.

17 “Strongly Correlated Electron Systems,” Nature Research Intelligence Topic Summary, last modified August 25, 2025, https://www.nature.com/research-intelligence/nri-topic-summaries/strongly-correlated-electron-systems-micro- 2122.

18 G. Bihlmayer, “Density Functional Theory for Magnetism and Magnetic Anisotropy,” in Handbook of Materials Modeling, eds, W. Andreoni and S. Yip (Springer, 2018): 1-23, https://doi.org/10.1007/9.

19 C.L. Rom, R.W. Smaha, C.L. Melamed, R.R. Schnepf, K.N. Heinselman, J.S. Mangum, S.-J. Lee, S. Lany, L.T.

Schelhas, A.L. Greenaway, J.R. Neilson, S.R. Bauers, A.C. Tamboli, and J.S. Andrew, “Combinatorial Synthesis of Cation-Disordered Manganese Tin Nitride MnSnN2 Thin Films with Magnetic and Semiconducting Properties,” Chemistry of Materials 35, no. 7 (2023): 2936-2946, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c03826.

20 S. Dugu, S. Mahatara, C.E. Regier, I.A. Leahy, A. Zakutayev, J.R. Neilson, S. Lany, and S.R. Bauers, “Synthesis, Stability, and Magnetic Properties of Antiperovskite Co3PdN,” Chemistry of Materials 37, no. 5 (2025): 1906-1913, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.4c03147.

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs

Questions about this NOFO? Check the Frequently Asked Questions available at https://arpa-e.energy.gov/faqs. For questions that have not already been answered, email ARPA-E-CO@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line). Problems with ARPA-E eXCHANGE? Email ExchangeHelp@hq.doe.gov (with NOFO name and number in subject line).

- 14 -based,21 and boride-based magnetic materials,22 suggest new complex nitrides, carbides, borides and others are possible. Similar systems could emerge from sustained materials genomics and ML on these known, stable structure types.

• New high-throughput materials fabrication technologies may provide efficient new ways for materials discovery. Robotic laboratories using mechanical alloying, rapid sintering, or additive manufacturing may advance the discovery of novel magnetic materials. Once new potentially ultra-strong magnets have been identified, new experimental tools can be used to query grain boundary phases, including scanning microscopy and atom probe tomography (APT).

E. TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE TARGETS

Progress toward the goal of discovering new physics, chemistries, and structure for ultra-powerful soft and/or hard…