Supra Launches Initiative to Secure U.S. Supply of Gallium, Scandium, and Critical Minerals
Supra Launches to Address Growing U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Challenges
Amid escalating concerns around the security and resilience of U.S. critical mineral and rare earth element supply chains, Supra Elemental Recovery, Inc. announces its launch as a spinout from The University of Texas at Austin with a focused mission to selectively recover high-purity critical minerals from domestic waste streams. The company is positioning itself at the intersection of advanced chemistry, materials science, and national industrial strategy, initially targeting gallium and scandium—two elements that are indispensable to semiconductors, aerospace systems, clean energy technologies, defense platforms, and advanced communications infrastructure. As global competition for these materials intensifies, Supra aims to provide a scalable, domestic solution that reduces reliance on foreign imports and strengthens U.S. manufacturing independence.
Addressing U.S. Dependence on Imported Gallium and Scandium
The United States is currently 100 percent import-dependent for both gallium and scandium, a vulnerability that has become increasingly visible as geopolitical tensions and export controls disrupt global supply chains. China dominates the production and refining of many critical minerals through capital-intensive and environmentally hazardous processes, leaving U.S. manufacturers exposed to supply shocks and pricing volatility. Supra’s launch directly addresses this strategic gap by focusing on domestic recovery rather than traditional mining, unlocking valuable materials already present in industrial byproducts, mine tailings, and electronic waste streams across the country.
A Non-Toxic and Selective Recovery Technology
At the core of Supra’s platform is a non-toxic recovery approach in which dissolved industrial waste is pumped through proprietary, reusable, sponge-like cartridges engineered to selectively capture and release critical minerals in a precise sequence. Unlike conventional refining methods that rely on harsh chemicals and energy-intensive separation steps, Supra’s system leverages advances in supramolecular chemistry and materials design to achieve high selectivity while minimizing environmental impact. Early performance results demonstrate up to 100 times greater selectivity and processing speed compared to incumbent refining technologies, enabling the production of higher-purity materials at lower cost and with significantly reduced waste.
Unlocking Value From Domestic Waste Streams
Each year, billions of dollars’ worth of critical minerals remain locked inside U.S. waste streams, including industrial byproducts, legacy mine tailings, and discarded electronics. These materials are often treated as liabilities rather than strategic assets, despite containing concentrations of valuable elements suitable for recovery. According to Katie Ullmann Durham, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Supra, profitably extracting these elements represents a transformative opportunity for American industry. By turning overlooked waste streams into reliable sources of critical inputs, Supra seeks to support the long-term needs of advanced manufacturing sectors while reducing environmental burdens associated with disposal and legacy contamination.
Platform Technology Designed for Multiple Elements
While gallium and scandium serve as the company’s initial focus, Supra’s technology is designed as a versatile platform capable of refining multiple elements from multiple feedstock sources. Jordan Sessler, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Supra, emphasizes that rare earths and critical minerals are not inherently scarce but are notoriously difficult and expensive to refine at high purity. By integrating advances in fluid dynamics, materials science, and chemical selectivity, Supra’s modular system can be adapted to recover additional elements, including cobalt, lithium, and lanthanides that are essential for batteries, permanent magnets, and a wide range of electronic devices. This flexibility positions the company to respond to evolving market needs and supply chain priorities.
Roots in Federally Supported University Research
Supra’s technology builds on years of federally supported research conducted at The University of Texas at Austin, one of the nation’s leading institutions in materials science and engineering. The underlying innovations emerged from academic work aimed at solving fundamental challenges in selective separation and purification, now translated into a commercially scalable system. Mark Arnold, Associate Vice President for Discovery to Impact and Managing Director of Longhorn Ventures at UT Austin, highlights Supra as a prime example of how world-class university research can be transformed into real-world solutions that advance U.S. industrial leadership and deliver lasting economic and societal impact.
Strengthening Supply Chains for Advanced Manufacturing and Defense
By enabling domestic refining of high-purity critical minerals, Supra’s approach directly supports industries where supply chain security is paramount. Semiconductor fabrication, aerospace manufacturing, defense systems, clean energy technologies, and advanced communications all depend on consistent access to materials like gallium and scandium. Supra’s recovery-based model offers a complementary pathway to traditional mining, reducing exposure to geopolitical risks while aligning with environmental and sustainability goals increasingly demanded by government agencies and commercial customers alike.
Backed by Strategic Investors and Early Capital Support
In conjunction with its launch, Supra announced the successful close of an oversubscribed $2 million pre-seed funding round led by Crucible Capital, with participation from the UT Seed Fund, Climate Capital, Portmanteau Ventures, and Pew Protection Trust. The strong investor interest reflects growing recognition of refining capacity as the key bottleneck between domestic raw resources and secure U.S. supply chains. The capital will be used to accelerate technology development, expand validation efforts for additional elements, and prepare for commercial pilot deployments targeted for 2026.
Investor Perspective on U.S. Refining Capacity
Meltem Demirors, Founder and General Partner at Crucible Capital, notes that restoring America’s leadership in rare earths and critical minerals depends on building domestic refining capabilities, not just extracting raw materials. Supra’s proprietary approach directly addresses this challenge by offering a scalable and environmentally responsible pathway to produce high-purity materials within the United States. Investors see the company as uniquely positioned to reshape how critical materials are produced and integrated into domestic supply chains at a time when national priorities increasingly emphasize industrial resilience.
Preparing for Commercial Pilots and Industry Partnerships
Looking ahead, Supra is actively engaging with industrial partners interested in supplying feedstock, purchasing recovered critical minerals, or exploring strategic collaborations. The company’s modular system is designed to integrate into existing industrial operations, enabling rapid deployment near waste sources and minimizing transportation and handling costs. Commercial pilot programs planned for 2026 will serve as a key step toward broader adoption, demonstrating the scalability and economic viability of Supra’s recovery technology across multiple industries.
Building the Future of Domestic Critical Minerals Recovery
Supra Elemental Recovery, Inc. is positioning itself as a foundational player in the next generation of U.S. critical minerals infrastructure. By transforming waste into value, combining scientific innovation with industrial pragmatism, and aligning with national supply chain priorities, the company aims to create a resilient domestic source of materials essential to modern technology and national security. As demand for critical minerals continues to grow, Supra’s approach offers a compelling alternative to traditional refining models, supporting both economic competitiveness and environmental responsibility in the evolving global materials landscape.
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