The UMKC-led Critical Materials Crossroads Engine has been selected for a $160 million NSF award, positioning the Kansas City region as a national hub for critical materials innovation, commercialization, and workforce development. This historic investment, potentially the largest in Missouri higher education history, aims to strengthen America's supply chains, advanced manufacturing, and national security by reducing dependence on foreign-controlled supply chains for critical materials. The initiative is expected to create approximately 10,000 jobs by 2036 and generate up to $40 billion in economic output, significantly boosting the Missouri-Kansas GDP. The NSF Critical Materials Crossroads Engine, initiated by the University of Missouri System in 2022, is driven by a coalition of over 260 partners spanning higher education, industry, entrepreneurship, government, and community and workforce development organizations in Missouri and Kansas. The goal is to secure the United States' economic and national security future by developing the regional ecosystem necessary for increasing the production of metals and advanced materials used in various industries, including batteries, aircraft engine parts, semiconductors, and medical devices. The starting materials include concentrated ore and spent materials, recovered domestically and internationally. The Kansas City region's strategic advantages, such as its central geographic location, robust transportation network, deep manufacturing roots, and growing expertise in advanced materials research and engineering, make it an ideal location for this initiative. The NSF's investment will not only strengthen domestic supply chains but also create high-paying jobs and build a more resilient domestic supply chain. The project has garnered bi-state and bipartisan support from top federal and state leaders, recognizing its importance for the United States' economic and national security. The Critical Materials Crossroads Engine is expected to build and scale innovation clusters, accelerate the development of critical technologies, prepare talent for emerging jobs, and grow regional economies. It will partner with the private sector to advance technology deployment and secure America's position at the forefront of science and technology. The NSF's Regional Innovation Engines investments in critical technologies and future industries will transform America's innovation infrastructure for decades to come, making the Kansas City region a substantial resource in the Midwest for onshore and sustaining production capacity for critical minerals used across various sectors. The initiative has received support from various federal and state leaders, including Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt, U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, U.S. Rep. Mark Alford, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, and U.S. Rep. Jason Smith. Industry partners, such as Burns & McDonnell, EaglePicher Technologies, Full Employment Council, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Great Jobs KC, KC SmartPort, and Wagner Logistics, have also expressed their support and commitment to the project. The NSF's selection of the Critical Materials Crossroads Engine is a significant step towards reversing the loss of workforce, infrastructure, and manufacturing capacity required for critical materials production in the United States. It represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen America's economic and national security while positioning the Kansas City region as a global leader in critical materials research and innovation.
