About the forum
Connecting Resources, Technology, Capital and Industry
From ambition to operating capacity.
The U.S. Critical Minerals Leadership Forum brings together the organisations responsible for building America’s next generation of critical minerals capacity.
From exploration and mining through processing, refining, financing, infrastructure, manufacturing and end use, the forum focuses on the commercial and strategic challenges that determine whether U.S. critical minerals projects move from ambition to operating capacity.
Explore the technologies, investment models, infrastructure, partnerships and industrial strategies needed to build competitive, resilient and commercially viable U.S. critical minerals supply chains.
The big picture
The Critical Minerals Value Chain
Seven links that have to hold for a domestic supply chain to work — and the forum covers every one of them.
Resource
Discovering and developing America’s critical mineral resources.
Process
Building processing, separation, refining and materials-production capacity.
Finance
Mobilising the capital to move projects from development to commercial scale.
Technology
Deploying technologies that improve recovery, efficiency, economics and scalability.
Infrastructure
Building the power, water, transport and industrial infrastructure for new capacity.
Manufacture
Connecting domestic mineral supply with America’s strategic manufacturing base.
Secure
Creating resilient, traceable and commercially sustainable supply chains.
Programme themes
What Will Be Covered
Building Domestic Supply
Exploration, resource development and project development needed to expand America’s critical minerals resource base.
Scaling Processing & Refining
Closing the midstream gap through processing, separation, refining, advanced materials production and recycling.
Financing Commercial Projects
Mobilising public and private capital and understanding what makes critical minerals projects investable and bankable.
From Pilot to Commercial Scale
Accelerating the deployment of new extraction, processing, recovery, recycling, automation and digital technologies.
Connecting Minerals to Manufacturing
Building stronger connections between producers, processors and the strategic industries that depend on reliable domestic supply.
Infrastructure & Energy
Addressing the power, water, transport and industrial infrastructure required to support new critical minerals capacity.
Permitting & Policy
Understanding the evolving federal and state environment and how policy, permitting and government support translate into projects.
Supply Chain Resilience & Traceability
Building greater visibility, assurance and resilience across increasingly complex multi-tier supply chains.
Why now · Why attend
Where U.S. critical minerals capacity gets built
Meet senior decision-makers from mining, processing, manufacturing, defense, automotive, infrastructure, technology, finance and government — in one room, over two days.
Meet the decision-makers
Connect with the organisations building U.S. critical minerals capacity across the entire value chain.
Find commercial opportunities
Supply technology, equipment, engineering, infrastructure, financing and specialist services to the next generation of projects.
Accelerate to commercial scale
Understand the financing, permitting, infrastructure, technology and partnerships required to move projects forward.
Meet strategic customers & partners
Build relationships from resource developers and processors to manufacturers, defense contractors, OEMs and infrastructure operators.
Showcase & discover technology
Explore innovations in extraction, processing, digitalisation, automation, AI and supply-chain management — or position your own.
See where investment is moving
Hear from government, project developers, investors and industrial leaders about where new capacity is being developed.
Who can benefit
Built for every part of the ecosystem
Project Developers
Find the technology, capital, infrastructure and commercial partnerships needed to advance projects.
Technology & Solution Providers
Meet project developers and industrial organisations looking for technologies and services across the value chain.
Industrial Buyers
Understand emerging domestic supply and connect directly with producers and processors developing new capacity.
Investors & Financial Institutions
Identify projects, technologies and companies positioned for the expansion of U.S. critical minerals capacity.
Government & Economic Development
Connect policy, incentives and infrastructure with the companies developing America’s critical minerals ecosystem.
Who attends
Who You’ll Meet
Mining & Resource Development
Mining companiesCritical minerals project developersExploration companiesResource ownersJunior & emerging producersGeological & technical organisations
Processing, Refining & Materials
Mineral processorsRefinersSeparation companiesChemical processorsSpecialty metals producersRare earths & magnetsBattery materials producersRecycling & recovery
Strategic Industrial Demand
Automotive & EV manufacturersDefense & aerospaceBattery manufacturersAdvanced manufacturingElectronics & semiconductorsData centre operatorsEnergy & infrastructureIndustrial OEMs
Technology & Project Delivery
Processing & refining technologyMining technologyAutomation & controlAI & digital solutionsIndustrial softwareEquipment manufacturersEPC & EPCM firmsEngineering consultanciesInfrastructure providersEnergy technologySupply-chain & traceabilityTesting, certification & assurance
Capital & Strategic Investment
Commercial banksProject finance institutionsGovernment financing institutionsStrategic investorsInfrastructure investorsPrivate equityCorporate investment teamsProject developers
Government & Strategic Institutions
Federal governmentState governmentDefense & industrial-base organisationsEconomic development agenciesResearch institutionsUniversitiesIndustry associations
Advisory Board
Guided by Industry & Academic Leaders
Meet the Advisory Board
H. Şebnem Düzgün
Colorado School of Mines
Professor and Fred Banfield Distinguished Chair of Mining Engineering
Marek Locmelis
The University of Texas at Austin, Jackson School of Geosciences, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences & Bureau of Economic Geology
Associate Professor
WHAT WILL BE COVERED?
- Building Domestic Supply
Exploration, resource development and project development needed to expand America’s critical minerals resource base. - Scaling Processing & Refining
Closing the midstream gap through processing, separation, refining, advanced materials production and recycling. - Financing Commercial Projects
Mobilising public and private capital and understanding what makes critical minerals projects investable and bankable. - From Pilot to Commercial Scale
Accelerating the deployment of new extraction, processing, recovery, recycling, automation and digital technologies. - Connecting Minerals to Manufacturing
Building stronger connections between producers, processors and the strategic industries that depend on reliable domestic material supply. - Infrastructure & Energy
Addressing the power, water, transport and industrial infrastructure required to support new critical minerals capacity. - Permitting & Policy
Understanding the evolving federal and state environment and how policy, permitting and government support can translate into projects. - Supply Chain Resilience & Traceability
Building greater visibility, assurance and resilience across increasingly complex multi-tier supply chains.
Why Now?
Reasons To Attend
- Connect with the organisations building U.S. critical minerals capacity Meet senior decision-makers from mining, processing, manufacturing, defense, automotive, infrastructure, technology, finance and government.
- Find new commercial opportunities Identify opportunities to supply technology, equipment, engineering, infrastructure, financing and specialist services to the next generation of U.S. critical minerals projects.
- Accelerate projects from concept to commercial scale Understand the financing, permitting, infrastructure, technology and commercial partnerships required to move projects forward.
- Meet strategic customers and partners Build relationships across the value chain — from resource developers and processors to manufacturers, defense contractors, OEMs and infrastructure operators.
- Showcase technology and capabilities Position your organisation alongside the technologies and solutions enabling domestic extraction, processing, refining, manufacturing and supply-chain resilience.
- Understand where investment is moving Hear directly from government, project developers, investors and industrial leaders about where new capacity is being developed and what is required to unlock it.
- Build the U.S. critical minerals ecosystem Connect the companies, capital, infrastructure and industrial demand needed to turn America’s critical minerals strategy into commercial capacity.
Who Attends?
Mining & Resource Development
- Mining companies
- Critical minerals project developers
- Exploration companies
- Resource owners
- Junior and emerging producers
- Geological and technical organisations
Processing, Refining & Materials
- Mineral processors
- Refiners
- Separation companies
- Chemical processors
- Specialty metals producers
- Rare earths and magnet manufacturers
- Battery materials producers
- Recycling and recovery companies
Strategic Industrial Demand
- Automotive and EV manufacturers
- Defense and aerospace companies
- Battery manufacturers
- Advanced manufacturing
- Electronics and semiconductor companies
- Data centre operators
- Energy and infrastructure companies
- Industrial OEMs
Technology & Project Delivery
- Processing and refining technology providers
- Mining technology companies
- Automation and control providers
- AI and digital solution providers
- Industrial software companies
- Equipment manufacturers
- EPC and EPCM firms
- Engineering consultancies
- Infrastructure providers
- Energy technology companies
- Supply-chain and traceability solutions
- Testing, certification and assurance providers
Capital & Strategic Investment
- Commercial banks
- Project finance institutions
- Government financing institutions
- Strategic investors
- Infrastructure investors
- Private equity
- Corporate investment teams
- Project developers
Government & Strategic Institutions
- Federal government
- State government
- Defense and industrial-base organisations
- Economic development agencies
- Research institutions
- Universities
- Industry associations
THE CRITICAL MINERALS VALUE CHAIN
- RESOURCE: Discovering and developing America’s critical mineral resources.
- PROCESS: Building the processing, separation, refining and materials-production capacity needed to turn resources into usable materials.
- FINANCE: Mobilising the capital required to move projects from development to commercial scale.
- TECHNOLOGY: Deploying technologies that improve recovery, efficiency, economics and scalability.
- INFRASTRUCTURE: Building the power, water, transport and industrial infrastructure required for new capacity.
- MANUFACTURE: Connecting domestic mineral supply with America’s strategic manufacturing base.
- SECURE: Creating resilient, traceable and commercially sustainable supply chains.
WHO CAN BENEFIT?
- For Project Developers
Find the technology, capital, infrastructure and commercial partnerships needed to advance projects. - For Technology & Solution Providers
Meet project developers and industrial organisations looking for technologies and services across extraction, processing, refining, automation, energy, infrastructure and supply-chain management. - For Industrial Buyers
Understand emerging domestic supply and connect directly with producers and processors developing new capacity. - For Investors & Financial Institutions
Identify projects, technologies and companies positioned to participate in the expansion of U.S. critical minerals capacity. - For Government & Economic Development
Connect policy, incentives and infrastructure with the companies actually developing America’s critical minerals ecosystem.
Why Attend?
-
Explore the entire value chain
From exploration and extraction to processing, manufacturing, recycling, and end-use applications, the forum examines every stage of the critical minerals ecosystem. -
Learn from industry leaders
Hear from executives, policymakers, investors, researchers, and technology innovators driving the next generation of critical minerals development. -
Build strategic partnerships
Connect with decision-makers across mining, processing, manufacturing, government, finance, and technology. -
Discover new technologies
Explore innovations transforming resource development, processing, digitalization, automation, AI, and supply-chain management. -
Identify commercial opportunities
Develop new partnerships, investment opportunities, procurement relationships, and business collaborations.
Why Dallas?
Why Dallas
Where America’s Industrial Future Meets Critical Minerals
Dallas provides a strategic meeting point for the organisations building America’s next generation of industrial capacity.
Texas combines energy, manufacturing, infrastructure, logistics, technology and finance, creating a strong environment for conversations about how domestic critical minerals supply chains can be developed and scaled.
The forum brings together the project developers, technology providers, investors, infrastructure companies, manufacturers and government organisations needed to turn critical minerals strategy into commercial projects.
Join us in Dallas, February 17–18, 2027
Be part of the conversation building America’s critical minerals supply chain.
