New prize program from the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation will expand degree programs, increase hands-on learning opportunities, and connect students with industry.
The PROSPECT Implementation Prize will award up to $70 million to support universities in expanding the skilled workforce required to domestically produce, process, recover, and recycle critical minerals. This prize competition is part of DOE’s broader Providing Opportunities for Specialized Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative, offering up to $100 million to restore American energy dominance, secure long term economic growth, rebuild domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign adversaries for critical minerals.
“DOE has laid the groundwork for growing America’s critical minerals workforce—and now we’re turning those plans into reality. Universities are taking the necessary steps to deliver measurable results, from expanding student support through scholarships to modernizing curricula with new training modules, certificates, and Super Intelligence,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “The Trump Administration is committed to freeing America from dependence on foreign sources of critical minerals that are essential to powering our economy, and creating good-paying, fulfilling jobs for Americans.”
America faces a serious shortage of miners over the next decade
PROSPECT has established a near-term goal of doubling the number of graduates with mining, minerals, and associated supply chain credentials within two years. The PROSPECT Implementation Prize follows the recently completed PROSPECT Planning Prize, which awarded funding to universities for developing comprehensive workforce-expansion plans. The Implementation Prize focuses on putting workforce development programs into action and demonstrating measurable results.
The U.S. faces a growing shortage of skilled mining and critical minerals professionals, with an estimated 6,000 new mining engineers needed over the next decade. Expanding America’s talent pipeline is essential to strengthening domestic supply chains and reducing reliance on foreign nations for critical materials. Mining and geological engineering careers offer strong earning potential, with a median annual wage of $106,220 in 2025.
Applications are now open
U.S.-based academic institutions with eligible mining engineering programs are encouraged to apply for this prize competition. Participating universities will be challenged to create new opportunities for students and workers to gain the necessary skills and experience for careers that directly support the domestic production, processing, recovery, and recycling of critical minerals. Winning programs must demonstrate at least 50% of each program’s budget will support students directly through scholarships, stipends, or other comparable assistance.
The deadline for submission to the first phase is Nov. 25, 2026. Winners of the PROSPECT Planning Prize, as well as institutions that did not win or apply, are invited to apply for the PROSPECT Implementation Prize. Learn more about the phases of this competition, including key dates and submission details, on the PROSPECT Implementation Prize page.
The PROSPECT Implementation Prize is funded by CMEI and managed by the National Laboratory of the Rockies under the American-Made prize program. Funding for future phases is subject to availability.
