$16m PROSPECT Planning Prize launches to boost mining and critical minerals workforce

“Mining and critical minerals professionals are essential to America’s success in manufacturing, AI, energy, and national security—but this country isn’t producing enough of them,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “Through this prize competition, DOE will empower universities to pursue more ambitious strategies for attracting and educating the workers we need for a robust critical mineral supply chain.”

This prize competition is part of DOE’s $100m Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative, which delivers on President Trump’s bold agenda to restore American energy dominance, rebuild domestic supply chains, and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for critical minerals. The initiative’s near-term goal is to double the number of graduates with mining, minerals, and associated supply chain credentials across the United States.

Applications are now open

The deadline for submission is Oct. 5, 2026.

U.S.-based academic institutions with prize-eligible degree programs are encouraged to submit plans. Proposed programs should aim to substantially increase the number of graduates and other credentialed professionals prepared for relevant mining and supply chain careers in the next two years. Programs may target a range of beneficiaries, including early-career professionals, incumbent workers, educators, and students in university, community college, or high school.

The PROSPECT Planning Prize is funded by CMEI and managed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies under the American-Made prize program.