CMI panel discussions inspire critical materials ecosystem

CMI researchers conducted the activity for this highlight

Achievement 
During the 2025 CMI Annual Meeting at Idaho National Laboratory, CMI offered two panel discussions to inspire the critical materials ecosystem. The panels generated conversations among the more than 200 members of industry, universities, national laboratories, and the U.S. Department of Energy in attendance.

  • The Pathway to Commercialization: What Early-Stage Researchers Need to Know to De-Risk Technology 
    • Moderator Ryan Bills, Idaho National Laboratory, with panelists Ian Killough, Ridgeline Elements, Hood Whitson, Element3, and Subodh Das, Phinix.  
  • Mining the Unseen – How Secondary Sources are Powering America’s Critical Material Future 
    • Moderator Vicki Thompson, Idaho National Laboratory, with panelists Scott Glover, Vulcan Elements, Alex Tanner, Cyclic Materials, and Chris Young, Element USA Minerals.

Hub Targets Addressed  
Grand Challenges of anticipating criticality and increasing the speed of discovery and integration.

four people seated at table with microphones
A panel discussion during the 2025 CMI Annual Meeting was moderated by Vicki Thompson (right), and included (from left) Chris Young, Element USA Minerals; Alex Tanner, Cyclic Materials; and Scott Glover, Vulcan Elements.