Fund opens to drive forward UK Critical Minerals Strategy
The Critical Minerals Accelerator opens for applications from extraction, processing and recycling projects.
A £25mln fund is available for scale-up and commercialisation of innovative critical minerals projects across the UK.
Applications opened on 5 August and close on 30 September 2026.
In 2025, the UK Government published Vision 2035: Critical Minerals Strategy, building on the ambitions set out in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy.
The Critical Minerals Strategy sets out a long-term vision to strengthen the UK’s access to these materials. A central ambition is to grow a resilient domestic supply chain.
It aims to help businesses de-risk technologies, attract investment and strengthen UK critical minerals supply chains.
The projects must take place in the UK and deliver grant-funded activity by 31 March 2030.
The lead applicant must be a UK registered business with operations based in the UK, and be committed to developing innovation and follow-on commercial activity domestically.
Charities, not-for-profits, universities/academic institutions, research and technology organisations (RTOs) and public sector organisations may be included in the project team but not lead a project.
Further information to inform an application can be found online.
For information and questions contact: [email protected]
