News release from the Ames Laboratory, April 11, 2016.

The Critical Materials Institute, a U.S. Department of Energy Innovation Hub led by the Ames Laboratory, has gained ten new affiliates to its research program, seeking ways to eliminate and reduce reliance on rare-earth metals and other materials critical to the success of clean energy technologies.

The new affiliate members include:

The new affiliates have been welcomed by CMI since a revamped affiliate program was offered in November 2015, bringing the total number of affiliate members to 19.  

The new affiliates are a mixture of research, start-up, and large industrial concerns, and provide a diversity of outlook that is important to a successful research venture, said CMI Director Alex King.

“Industrial collaboration is the lifeblood of CMI, and the input that we get from our affiliate members is vital. Each of these organizations brings a unique viewpoint, and we are delighted to have them all in the program,” said King.

CMI’s affiliate program is designed to strengthen its think-tank approach to technological challenges by creating a network of partnerships. Benefits to the improved affiliate program include:

Priority notification of inventions available for licensing, to the extent allowed by Fairness of Opportunity requirements

  • Networking with other CMI affiliates, members, and researchers
  • Invitations to CMI annual meetings and workshops
  • Opportunities to interact with and potentially recruit CMI students and post-doctoral students
  • CMI bi-weekly newsletters and monthly webinars
  • Partnering for new funding opportunities
  • Opportunities to expand engagement under appropriate contractual terms
  • Participation on the CMI Industry Council

U.S. start-up companies, non-profits, universities, and FFRDCs may join the affiliate program for a $500 annual fee. For all others, the fee is $2500. U.S. Federal agencies can participate without fee. For more information about the affiliate program benefits, contact Stacy Joiner at joiner@ameslab.gov or 515-294-5932.

The Critical Materials Institute is a Department of Energy Innovation Hub led by the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory and supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office. CMI seeks ways to eliminate and reduce reliance on rare-earth metals and other materials critical to the success of clean energy technologies.

Ames Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science national laboratory operated by Iowa State University. Ames Laboratory creates innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. We use our expertise, unique capabilities and interdisciplinary collaborations to solve global problems.

Ames Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States, and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit science.energy.gov.