Ontario invests $4M to speed development of local critical-minerals tech

What happened

• Ontario is providing over $4 million through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund (CMIF) to advance home‑grown mining and processing technologies.

Who this affects

• Mining and mineral-tech companies across Ontario that develop exploration, recovery, processing or battery-related technologies.

By the numbers (from the release)

• CMIF grants can support projects with up to $500,000 each.
• Applications open June 30, 2026 and close August 25, 2026 (submit via Transfer Payment Ontario).
• Since 2022, the province has invested more than $25 million in 47 CMIF projects.
• The third CMIF intake funded 18 projects with nearly $8 million and leveraged about $12.3 million in private investment.
• Ontario’s mining sector contributes about $14.4 billion to provincial GDP and supports around 150,000 direct and indirect jobs; there are 37 active mines, eight of which are base metal operations.
• The province also announced a $500 million Critical Minerals Processing Fund and nearly $3.1 billion in loans, guarantees, grants and scholarships to support Indigenous participation and the supply chain.

Why it matters

• The funding helps move technologies from research to commercial use, which can unlock new mineral deposits, improve recovery from tailings, and strengthen local processing and battery supply chains.
• Officials say this is intended to attract private investment and create good‑paying jobs, particularly in Northern Ontario.

How to apply

• Eligible businesses can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario between June 30 and August 25, 2026.