#United States #Cambridge #Critical Materials #Found Industries

Found Industries Expands Operations in Cambridge

In an auspicious development for domestic materials and energy production, Found Industries, an innovative spin-off from MIT, has officially opened its new headquarters and the Found Metals Process Development Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This strategic move aims to elevate the U.S. capabilities in refining critical minerals like gallium, which play a vital role in various high-tech applications.

The facility launch, celebrated on August 7, 2026, was a collaborative event featuring notable figures such as Alex Fitzsimmons, Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy, and Kim Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. The celebration highlighted Found's commitment to transforming laboratory innovations into scalable industrial processes.

Found Industries' new center will enhance its capacity to develop, construct, and test systems for recovering critical metals from current industrial streams. This is pivotal, as the U.S. currently relies heavily on foreign sources for many essential materials necessary for industries such as semiconductors, energy infrastructure, and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Peter Godart, Found Industries' founding president and CEO, emphasized that while gallium and other critical metals already flow through industrial networks in the U.S., extracting them at scale remains a challenge. The newly established center marks a fundamental transition for Found, focusing on scaling up the technologies necessary for domestic production.

Addressing Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

The initiative to improve domestic production stemmed from vulnerabilities observed across supply chains for critical materials. The Found Metals division was initiated to develop unique processes for recovering essential metals directly from industrial feedstocks and by-products without relying on foreign-controlled substances or reagents. This signifies a fully domestic approach to material recovery, leveraging resources already available within U.S. infrastructure.

Gallium, a key focus for Found Metals, is essential in advanced electronics, communications, and energy systems. Despite its importance, the U.S. is notably dependent on imports for its gallium supply. Found is pioneering innovative methods to recover gallium and is in the process of developing similar technologies for other critical materials like indium, germanium, and antimony.

In May 2026, Found Industries fostered a partnership with ARES Strategic Mining Inc., outlining a mutual understanding to explore the recovery of various critical materials from feedstocks linked with the Lost Sheep Mine in Utah. This partnership reflects Found’s strategy of embracing local resources for technology development and material recovery.

Commitment to Innovation in Massachusetts

Massachusetts is recognized for its technological innovation and growth, and Found Industries' expansion is seen as a significant addition to the state's advanced manufacturing and critical technology landscape. The Process Development Center is poised to tackle one of the most challenging phases in technology development: transitioning from successful lab experiments to reliable, continuously operating industrial systems.

Professor Elsa Olivetti, co-director of the MIT Mineral Stewardship Consortium, underscored the significance of treating existing industrial waste as strategic mineral resources. Found Industries' strategy aims to surround itself with industrial partners possessing the necessary feedstocks and infrastructure to expedite the production process.

Overall, the establishment of Found Industries' new headquarters and development center in Cambridge is a landmark moment for domestic energy and materials production, promising to enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the United States in crucial industries. With significant backing from the U.S. Department of Energy and other stakeholders, Found is well-positioned to deliver innovative solutions to meet national challenges in industrial manufacturing and supply chain security.