DARPA and University of Utah Develop SMART Test Bed for Rare Earth Elements
DARPA and the University of Utah are collaborating on the Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Test Bed (SMART) to enhance domestic rare earth element (REE) supply. This initiative aims to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign REE sources through advanced extraction and processing technologies.
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The Strategic Materials Accelerator & Research Test Bed (SMART) is being developed by DARPA and the University of Utah to improve the U.S. supply of rare earth elements (REEs) and other strategic materials. Announced on May 19, SMART aims to support the Environmental Microbes as a Bioengineering Resource (EMBER) programme, focusing on biomining techniques to extract REEs from U.S. sources, including electronics recycling and mine waste.
This facility will enable researchers and small companies to validate and scale their technologies for REE extraction, addressing a significant gap in domestic capabilities. The initiative could enhance U.S. independence in critical minerals, impacting supply chain resilience and national security.
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