Critical Minerals Innovation Fund – Canada

Rapidly changing technologies are increasing the global demand for critical minerals. These minerals have become important to strategic industries such as:

• national defence
• emerging computer and telecommunications technologies
• clean technologies that will support a low-carbon future

The CMIF supports projects that involve research, development and commercialization of innovative technologies, techniques, processes and solutions for critical minerals and relate to Ontario’s key priority areas.

Objectives

Objectives of the CMIF include:

• increasing critical minerals exploration, mining, development, production and processing
• stimulating investment in Ontario’s critical minerals supply chain
• enhancing collaboration between industry, academia, start-ups, and research and development firms to encourage innovation in the critical minerals sector

Key Priority Areas

The CMIF supports Ontario’s critical minerals sector through investments in projects related to one or more of the following key priority areas:

• battery supply chain
  • mineral exploration and extraction
  • mineral processing
  • battery materials production
  • recycling and reusing minerals from batteries
• innovative techniques for deep exploration and mining
  • Innovative solutions such as remote mining are helping companies access mineral resources deeper below the earth’s surface and in more remote areas than ever before.
  • Continued investment in deep exploration technologies today will help support the critical minerals industry as it evolves.
  • Projects could tackle problems such as exploring and mining at depth in existing mines, with the goal of keeping mines in operation longer.
• recovery of minerals
  • In Ontario, many companies are interested in extracting additional value from mining wastes by recovering residual metals. Projects could explore innovative solutions for rethinking mining wastes.
• other innovative projects that support the critical minerals sector
  • Ontario is poised to become a global leader in critical minerals with increased investment in innovation. This may include reprocessing and recycling spent batteries and other end-use products to recover residual metals.

Funding 

• They will contribute a maximum of 50% of eligible project costs up to $500,000 per project.
• Applicants can only receive funding for one project per intake round of the CMIF.

Commercialization Activities

Eligible commercialization activities and associated costs include, but are not limited to:

• building or renovation costs specifically related to the commercialization of the new technology
• prototype demonstration costs (for example, engineering and design services and equipment purchases, fabrication, materials and installation costs)
• costs associated with scaling a technology for a mine site or project
• product certification costs
• research and development services provided by external companies
• capital assets and equipment related to commercialization of innovative techniques and processes

Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all of the following requirements.

• You are either:
  • a private-sector business
  • a private-sector business collaborating with a public-sector academic or research institution, or a non-profit organization or association. For projects involving collaboration between two or more entities, one entity must be the lead applicant and the funding recipient
• The project will take place in Ontario.
• The project involves research, development, and/or commercialization of innovative technologies, techniques, processes, or solutions for critical minerals that relate to one or more of the following key priority areas:
  • battery supply chain
  • innovative techniques for deep exploration and mining
  • recovery of minerals
  • other innovative projects that support the critical minerals sector
• The project is not receiving funding from any other Government of Ontario program.

For more information, visit Ministry of Mines.