The Critical Materials Institute from 2018 to 2023 conducted research through dozens of projects arranged in four Focus Areas:
- Diversifying Supply
- Developing Substitutes
- Driving Reuse & Recycling
- Crosscutting Research
The following projects have ended. Eight of these ended through annual portfolio reviews. The three OIP projects ended as of June 30, 2023.
Research Projects
CMI Project 1.1.13: Recovery of critical materials as by-products
Corby Anderson at Colorado School of Mines leads the CMI project "Recovery of critical materials as by-products"

CMI Project 1.1.15: Physio-chemical beneficiation of cobalt-bearing Iron Creek ores
Corby Anderson at Colorado School of Mines leads the CMI project "Physio-chemical beneficiation of cobalt-bearing Iron Creek ores"
CMI Project 1.2.12: Low-temperature electrochemical synthesis of graphite
Sheng Dai at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI Project "Low-temperature electrochemical synthesis of graphite"

CMI Project 2.1.12: High-performance, critical-element-free permanent magnets
Vitalij Pecharsky at Ames Laboratory leads the CMI project "High-performance, critical-element-free permanent magnets"
CMI Project 2.1.17: High magnetic field processing of permanent magnet materials
Michael McGuire at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "High magnetic field processing of permanent magnet materials"
CMI Project 2.3.12: Semi-continuous calciothermal reduction and production of rare earth elements
Andrew Sherman of Terves leads the CMI project "Semi-continuous calciothermal reduction and production of rare earth elements"
CMI Project 3.1.12: Li-ion battery disassembly, remanufacturing, and Li & Co recovery
Tim McIntyre at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Li-ion battery disassembly, remanufacturing, and Li & Co recovery"
CMI Project 3.1.14: Sulfur dioxide leaching and electrowinning for the recovery of cobalt, lithium, and manganese from lithium-ion battery cake
Mac McCreless at Garrison Minerals leads the CMI project "Sulfur dioxide (SO2) leaching and electrowinning for the recovery of cobalt, lithium, and manganese from lithium-ion battery cake"

CMI Project 3.3.11: Rare earth permanent magnet motors from salvaged automobiles
Tim McIntyre at Oak Ridge National Laboratory leads the CMI project "Rare earth permanent magnet motors from salvaged automobiles"
CMI Project 3.3.12: Low temperature electrochemical processing of rare earth elements
The CMI project "Low temperature electrochemical processing of rare earth elements" is based at Idaho National Laboratory