The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation recently launched the Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) Planning Prize. This prize offers eligible U.S. academic institutions the chance to win $1 million for creating plans to rapidly execute new programs aimed at developing the skilled workforce needed for the domestic production, processing, recovery, and recycling of critical minerals by the end of the 2028 calendar year.
Why critical minerals? Why now?
The United States is entering a new era of domestic critical minerals and materials development for advancing energy technologies and national security. Securing resilient domestic supply chains requires not only new mines, processing facilities, manufacturing capacity, recycling infrastructure, and energy technologies, but also a new generation of engineers, scientists, technicians, skilled professionals, educators, and business and policy leaders prepared to build and sustain them.
Declining enrollment and program consolidation, shortages of faculty and instructors, constrained teaching and laboratory capacity, outdated equipment, limited access to work-based learning, and low awareness of modern careers restrict the workforce pipeline.
So, how does the PROSPECT Planning Prize address these challenges?
Addressing these constraints requires connected pathways for students in mining and other disciplines, community college and high school students, early-career professionals, incumbent workers, and educators; flexible education and training options; curricula aligned with current technology and U.S. industry practice; practical experiences; and collaboration among universities, U.S. industry, national laboratories, schools, workforce organizations, and communities.
Ultimately, the PROSPECT Planning Prize aims to strengthen the nation's educational capacity and develop a domestic talent pipeline across the critical minerals and materials value chain.
The prize offers a total of $16 million, with $1 million going to each of up to 16 winning institutions. Applications are now open until Oct. 5 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Ready to get started? Review the prize rules and watch the PROSPECT Prize informational webinar recording now.
