CALL FOR CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MINERAL PROJECTS (CSM)

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY APPLIED TO CRITICAL AND STRATEGIC MINERAL SECTORS (CSM CIRCULAR ECONOMY PROGRAM)

OBJECTIVES

The 2025-2031 Québec Strategy for the Development of Critical and Strategic Minerals aims to position Québec as a hub for critical and strategic minerals (CSM) on the international stage. Its objective is to promote the development and sustainability of CSM value chains by leveraging Québec’s competitive advantages and expertise, while contributing to government priorities regarding energy and technological transition. This approach is also aligned with a perspective of sustainable development, social acceptability, and wealth creation for the regions, including local and Indigenous communities.

Applying circular economy strategies to the various sectors linked to mining presents an opportunity to address certain challenges related to the supply CSM, their environmental impacts, and the social acceptability of mining projects. Recovery and recycling of CSMs are certainly the most easily identifiable circular economy strategies, but others exist that can help circularize the industry and thus limit its material footprint; these include eco-design, the functional economy, waste valorization, and traceability. However, integrating these strategies into the mining sector’s practices requires acquiring new knowledge and innovating.

Specific objectives of the Program are as follows:

Increase innovation and knowledge acquisition on CSMs from mining extraction to production and processing of these minerals through recycling and reclamation of mine tailings;
Develop practical knowledge and interest in the integration of the circular economy into the development of value chains of Québec’s CSMs;
Develop mutually beneficial collaborations between the scientific community and the sectors of activity related to the value chains of CSMs in Québec;
Develop partnerships and collaborations between several companies or key players that will have potential wide-ranging benefits for Québec’s CSM value chains.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

For a submission to PRIMA Québec, the project must be directly related to the circular economy applied to CSM sectors while promoting the development of Québec’s mineral potential, regardless of the origin of the raw material or the stage of the value chain targeted. Additionally, for this fourth call for proposals, projects targeting CSM useful for advanced technologies (Photonics and microelectronics) will be prioritized.

In accordance with its strategic plan, PRIMA Québec encourages the submission of projects concerning the development of advanced materials applied to Québec’s leading sectors, such as transportation and infrastructure, energy, environment, textiles, electronics, health and chemistry, critical and strategic minerals.

Technologies targeted by this call for projects mainly include:

New materials: Polymers, elastomers, biomaterials, metals, innovative fillers, cellulosic filaments, natural and synthetic fibres, nanomaterials, quantum materials, etc.
Formulated materials or finished or semi-finished high-performance products: Composites (TS or TP), rubbers, alloys, ceramics, intelligent textiles, flexible materials, membranes, thin layers, coatings, biocompatible materials, encapsulation, sensors, printable electronics, quantum technology, etc.
Implementation and scaling processes and new characterization techniques: Additive manufacturing and 3D printing, surface modification and treatment, micro/nanofabrication, tooling, new characterization instruments, modelling and simulation, shaping processes, quantum computing, etc.
Use of artificial intelligence with advanced materials for production, integration or implementation processes or characterization techniques.

See the guide for projects examples.

ELIGIBILITY RULES

Organizations and companies eligible for project funding under the CSM Circular Economy Program must be regular members of PRIMA Québec and be involved in the advanced materials sector.

Two components characterize the eligibility to the measure.

Component 1 – Québec College Centres for the transfer of technology (CCTT) and non-profit organizations (NPO) involved in various research and development areas in collaboration with a company or group of companies.

Component 2 – Company or group of companies with an establishment in operation in Québec intended to produce goods and services or for research and development activities.

Thus, eligible applicants, eligible projects as well as eligible and ineligible expenses vary from one component to another, see the guide for more information. Universities can participate, but only as a second partner.

Summary of these standards according to the components

Elements	Component 1 CCTT et NPO	Component 2 Compagny
Maximum duration of the projects	36 months	24 months
Minimum number of companies with a presence in Québec (production or R&D)	1	1
Eligibility of Canadian, foreign or industry association companies	YES as 2^nd company	YES as 2^nd company
Minimum number of research institutions (CCTT or NPO)	1	0
Maximum PRIMA grant (funding rate (%) of eligible expenses)	70% (cash)	70% (cash)
Minimum industrial contribution	20% of the project (cash)	20% of the project (cash)
Maximum accumulation of public funds per project	80% (cash)	80% (cash)
Maximum PRIMA funding per project (including IRCs if applicable)	$500,000 per project	$500,000 per project

CALENDAR

Launch of the call: May 2026
Letter of intent required: September 11, 2026, at noon
Submission of projects: October 23, 2026, at noon
Communication of results: December 2026.

RELEVANTS DOCUMENTS

English version

NOTE: Only applications written in French are accepted for Component 2.

French version

FOR INFORMATION

For eligibility criteria or to discuss your innovation project, contact:

Michel Lefèvre

Director – Programs & International Collaborations
514 241-3322

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