Critical Mineral Substitutes for the Green Transition

Critical Mineral Substitutes for the Green Transition is a grant from EQT Foundation that funds high-risk, high-impact deep tech research projects aimed at substituting or drastically reducing the use of critical minerals in key climate technologies such as batteries, electric motors, power electronics, photovoltaics, and electrolyzers.

The program provides catalytic, non-dilutive funding through a fast-track process designed to be scientist-friendly, with award decisions faster than traditional grants. Eligible applicants are scientists and researchers developing breakthrough materials or technologies. Awards range from €25,000 to €100,000.

The application deadline was February 25, 2026.

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EQT Foundation is seeking to award €25,000 to €100,000 in catalytic, non-dilutive funding to research projects with high-risk, high-impact, deep tech approaches to substituting or drastically reducing the use of critical minerals in key climate technologies. Deadline to submit your application: February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm CET Speeding up the granting process to be as scientist-friendly as possible.

Unlike traditional granting, which can take months to approve, fast granting speeds up the process so researchers and innovators can get the money they need and make progress on breakthrough solutions as soon as possible. The green transition depends on technologies like batteries, electric motors, power electronics, photovoltaics, and electrolyzers.

Many of these rely on a small set of critical and strategic raw materials whose supply is concentrated, volatile, and often environmentally and socially costly. Scaling these technologies to net-zero levels without alternative materials and designs risks bottlenecks, higher costs, and slower decarbonization.

This call aims to support breakthrough science that replaces or radically reduces critical minerals use, while improving performance, cost, and sustainability. EQT Foundation is seeking to award €25,000 to €100,000 in catalytic, non-dilutive funding to research projects with high-risk, high-impact, deep tech approaches to substituting or drastically reducing the use of critical minerals in key climate technologies.

February 25, 2026 at 11:59pm CET We are particularly interested in translational proposals focused on: Substitutes for critical minerals in energy storage and conversion Breakthrough materials, chemistries, and device architectures that avoid or materially reduce reliance on critical minerals in batteries and related electrochemical systems - while remaining manufacturable and competitive.

Examples include: Earth-abundant battery chemistries (e.g., sodium-, potassium-, magnesium-, calcium-, sulfur-, silicon-, organic-, or flow-based systems) that reduce reliance on lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, and other constrained inputs Low-/no-cobalt cathode innovations, low-/no-graphite anode innovations, alternative current collectors/binders/electrolytes that reduce constrained materials Degradation, safety, and fast-charge solutions that enable adoption of substitute chemistries in relevant use cases (grid, light EV, heavy transport) Rare-earth-free magnets and machine designs Materials and device innovations that remove or significantly reduce rare earth elements in magnets and machines central to electrification.

Examples include: New permanent magnet materials based on abundant elements with competitive coercivity/temperature stability Novel motor/generator architectures (e.g., switched reluctance, advanced induction, hybrid designs) that reduce rare-earth dependence without unacceptable efficiency/weight penalties Scalable processing/manufacturing approaches enabling rare-earth-lean magnet production and integration into motors/generators Earth-abundant materials for solar, power electronics, and grid technologies Substitutes for scarce/critical inputs in photovoltaics, power electronics, and grid infrastructure.

Examples include: PV absorber/contact/interconnect layers that reduce reliance on constrained elements (and include stability + manufacturability considerations) Alternative semiconductor/interconnect/dielectric materials, packaging, and thermal management innovations that reduce constrained inputs while meeting reliability targets Conductor/cable and grid-component innovations that materially improve material efficiency, longevity, and recyclability (beyond incremental tweaks) Circular substitutes: recycling, reuse, and “virtual” substitution Technologies that displace virgin critical mineral demand by producing spec-grade secondary materials (or functionally equivalent components) through novel science and engineering - not logistics or marketplaces.

Examples include: Step-change recovery, purification, and re-manufacturing from end-of-life batteries, magnets, electronics, catalysts, industrial scrap, and by-products Novel separations and process chemistries (e.g., electrochemical separations, selective leaching, new sorbents/ion-exchange, low-waste regeneration, closed-loop reagents) Hardware innovations (e.g., sensor-driven sorting, robotics disassembly, inline analytics, modular processing) that handle real feedstock variability and contaminants Demonstrated pathway to yield/purity/throughput/cost targets competitive with primary production Out-of-scope proposals include, but are not limited to: Exploration/extraction/expansion of mining without a clear substitution or demand-reduction angle Incremental optimizations without a step-change in substitution, recyclability, or environmental impact Pure policy/market/macro analysis without concrete technology development Basic science without a credible translational pathway to a substitute material/device/process Generic AI/software, supply-chain optimization, trading, or finance tools not tied to specific substitution outcomes Projects unrelated to climate, energy, or industrial decarbonization Updates from EQT Foundation February 11, 2026 EQT Foundation announces Rare Disease Science Grant recipients January 27, 2026 EQT Foundation opens applications for breakthrough science grants to reduce dependence on critical minerals for the green transition January 8, 2026 EQT Foundation invests in Biographica, an agritech startup at the intersection of AI and crop genetics December 10, 2025 EQT Foundation backs space solar energy company, Overview Energy Do You Want to Know More?

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A Purpose-Driven Global Investment Organization Terms and Conditions of Use EQT Policies & Statements Complaints Handling Procedure Sustainable Finance Disclosure Ideal candidates will have: Strong academic track record and bold science or deeptech innovation potential to make a significant difference towards diagnosing and treating of rare diseases An entrepreneurial mindset with a demonstrated or clearly articulated vision for translating their research into the market for patient impact Additional criteria and eligibility: Geographical Any scientist/researcher associated with an accredited nonprofit University, hospital, or research institution around the world is eligible to apply.

The concept is based on novel scientific or deeptech technology. The scientific rationale and documentation validate the idea, and the intended scientific outcomes solves a huge challenge with potential for creating high impact while addressing specific rare diseases. We’re placing an emphasis on funding high-risk, high-reward proposals that might not otherwise get funded.

The proposed solution addresses a significant or future market need; the applicant can articulate the insights and assumptions they’re basing their vision on; and demonstrates the courage, creativity, and drive to pioneer new approaches and translate discovery to impact. Please fill out the form below and we'll be in touch as soon as possible. Grants Submission - EQT Foundation