The University of Utah announced the creation of the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals, a new initiative aimed at expanding sustainable domestic production of critical minerals through education, workforce development, and advanced research.
The university’s Board of Trustees approved the proposal for the institute, which is designed to support the full lifecycle of critical mineral development, from discovery and responsible mining to processing and recycling. The institute will focus on materials essential to advanced technologies, including rare earth elements, as the United States works to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
The initiative is supported by recent legislative action in Utah, including measures passed during the 2026 session to strengthen the state’s mining industry. The institute is expected to play a central role in positioning Utah as a national hub for critical mineral production, research, and innovation.
The Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals will take an interdisciplinary approach, bringing together expertise from multiple academic areas, including engineering, geology, law, business, and social sciences. This structure is intended to address not only technical challenges but also environmental, regulatory, and market considerations tied to mineral development.
The university emphasized that the institute will build on its longstanding leadership in mining and metallurgy education, dating back more than a century. Over the past six years, University of Utah researchers have secured more than $20 million in funding for critical minerals research, providing a strong foundation for the institute’s work.
In addition to research, the institute will create a comprehensive ecosystem for training and workforce development, integrating undergraduate and graduate education with hands-on learning opportunities. An external advisory board composed of industry and government leaders will help guide the institute’s direction and ensure alignment with national priorities, including economic growth and supply chain security.
The launch of the institute remains subject to final approval from the Utah System of Higher Education.
KEY QUOTES:
“With legislative support from state leaders, Utah is taking a decisive step to lead in critical minerals. Working with industry and governmental partners, the Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals will position Utah as the nation’s hub for critical mineral production, processing and research—driving economic growth, strengthening supply chains and advancing discoveries that matter.”
Taylor Randall, President, University of Utah
“The Institute for Critical and Strategic Minerals amplifies the work already underway at the University of Utah. The U is uniquely positioned to lead this interdisciplinary effort. As the only Utah institution offering the combination of geology, mining engineering and metallurgical engineering, we can fully integrate crucial STEM fields with environmental research, supply chain analysis and policy to advance critical minerals research from discovery to application.”
Michael Free, Professor of Metallurgical Engineering and Proposed Director, ICSM
“For more than a century, the University of Utah’s College of Mines and Earth Sciences has trained the engineers and geologists who powered the state’s mining industry. ICSM builds on that legacy, advancing a modern, interdisciplinary approach that drives innovation responsibly and benefitting Utahns in the long run.”
Mitzi Montoya, Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, University of Utah
