Notification of Intent: OPP1399 Advancing solutions for critical mineral production and recycling

Overview

Apply for pump-priming funding to explore, test and validate disruptive solutions for critical mineral extraction, processing, recovery, reprocessing, recycling or re-mining, with the potential to transform UK critical mineral value chains.  

You must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding. 

There is a mandatory Notification of Intent (NoI) stage for this UKRI funding opportunity. To submit an NoI, fill in this form by 1st December 2026 at 4:00pm UK time. If a full application is submitted without a prior NoI by the stated deadline, it will be rejected.

The NoI form asks for details of the proposed research team and a brief summary of the proposed research project. Please complete the NoI to the best of your ability. This information will not be assessed but will be used to inform plans for the assessment panel. Information provided at the NoI stage is not considered final, so you may amend project details as you develop your proposal ahead of the full application stage. Additional partners and project co-leads who meet UKRI eligibility requirements may also be included in the full application. Feedback will not be given for the NoI unless we have concerns regarding eligibility or the fit to the funding opportunity scope. Please ensure you have read the OPP1399 Funding Opportunity page in full, before completing an NoI. Please send any questions regarding this NoI stage to EarthEnergyResources@nerc.ukri.org