UKRI Interdisciplinary Centre for a Circular Economy of Technology Metals

Met4Tech serves as a national hub for coordinating research and innovation across the entire technology metal supply chain. Technology metals—including lithium, cobalt, and rare earths—are the "DNA" of the net-zero transition, yet their supply is often precarious. The centre brings together academics, industry leaders, and policymakers to create a comprehensive roadmap for a circular economy, focusing on everything from sustainable primary supply and manufacturing innovations to the "urban mining" of obsolete products.The centre’s work is inherently interdisciplinary, looking beyond simple recycling to examine system-level interventions. By analyzing the stocks and flows of metals within the UK economy, Met4Tech identifies opportunities to minimize waste and maximize resource productivity. Ultimately, the project aims to reduce the UK’s reliance on imported raw materials, fostering a resilient industrial ecosystem that can support the rapid growth of digital and green energy sectors.