Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration Program

• Full project proposal form
• Applicant financial report
• Detailed project budget
• Detailed statement of work
• Risk analysis and supporting TRL documents

Who is eligible?

• Legal entities validly incorporated or registered in Canada, including for-profit and not-for-profit organizations such as companies, industry associations, research associations and community groups.
• Academic institutions.
• Provincial, territorial, regional and municipal governments and their departments and agencies.
• Indigenous communities or governments, Tribal Councils or equivalent entities, national and regional Indigenous councils and tribal organizations, and Indigenous majority-owned and controlled for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
• Members of Indigenous groups with community knowledge, Indigenous traditional knowledge or input relevant to the policy dialogue.

Who is not eligible

• Projects involving downstream manufacturing R&D under GPI
• Applicants outside the eligible Canadian recipient categories for CMRDD

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and benefits for employees on the payroll of the recipient for the time spent on the project.
• Professional, scientific, technical and contracting services; training, workshops and facility costs; and travel expenditures, including meals and accommodation, based on National Joint Council rates.
• Capital expenditures for the purchase, installation, testing and commissioning of qualifying equipment, materials and products, including diagnostic testing tools and instruments and original equipment manufacturer equipment warranties.
• Laboratory and field supplies and materials; printing services and translation; data collection services; construction insurance, license fees and permits; accreditation; scholarships; and field testing services.
• For Indigenous organizations, costs associated with an Indigenous ceremony excluding hospitality and honoraria for Elders; and GST, PST or HST net of any tax rebate to which the recipient is entitled.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Mining activities, drilling, and exploration programs
• Environmental characterization of waste
• Reclamation and disposal activities
• Sampling or source feed acquisition
• Downstream manufacturing research and development

Eligible geographic areas

• Canada

• Phase 1 selects the most promising projects.
• Applications are assessed using technical, prioritization and due diligence criteria.
• NRCan may prioritize projects that are investment-ready.
• NRCan may prioritize projects strongly aligned with program objectives.
• Priority may depend on available funding.

• Submit a full project proposal, including all relevant documentation, through the secure funding portal.

• Applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility.
• Only the most innovative projects aligned with program objectives are selected.
• Successful applicants must enter a contribution agreement within three months of approval.
• Selected projects may be subject to due diligence before final funding.