The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) and the University of Minnesota’s Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) have established a collaborative research alliance called the Joint Research Alliance for Innovative Materials and Processing for Advanced Critical Technologies, or IMPACT. The partnership aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and commercial-scale production for technologies related to critical minerals and materials processing.
The alliance leverages complementary capabilities from both institutions to accelerate the development of supply chain solutions for critical materials needed by U.S. industry and manufacturing. NLR contributes experimental platforms, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence expertise, while NRRI provides laboratory-to-pilot-scale facilities. Together, the institutions can work across technology readiness levels from fundamental research through to industrial demonstration, operating at scales ranging from laboratory experiments involving kilogram quantities to industrial production rates of 5 to 10 tons per hour.
One major focus area involves advanced recycling and recovery processes for critical metals including lithium, scandium, and copper. Current projects include work with the Department of War on recovering lithium from aluminum alloys used in military aircraft, which NLR notes cannot be effectively processed through conventional recycling methods. Additionally, NLR is leading the Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Office Tramp Element Removal Innovation Center, which aims to develop technologies for removing unwanted copper from scrap metal streams to ensure the domestic steel industry can produce high-quality steel from recycled materials.
According to the partnership announcement, IMPACT provides a translational proving ground that addresses a critical challenge in materials innovation known as the “valley of death,” where promising discoveries often fail to transition into viable commercial products due to scaling challenges and deployment complexities. By combining institutional strengths and resources, the collaboration aims to support domestic supply chains, regional economic development, and responsible resource management.
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