#United States #Washington, DC #Critical Minerals #Exiger #NAIA

Exiger and New American Industrial Alliance Join Forces for Critical Minerals Survey

In a significant move to bolster America’s industrial capabilities, Exiger has partnered with the New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) to conduct a vital survey focusing on the supply of critical minerals. This survey, dubbed the Ground Truth: The Exiger-NAIA Critical Minerals Readiness Survey, aims to provide insights into the current state and future prospects of critical minerals in the domestic market.

Exiger, renowned as a leader in supply chain AI and the largest provider of supply chain risk technology for the U.S. Government, views this collaboration as an essential step towards strengthening America's techno-industrial position. The company joins a coalition that includes prominent AI and defense technology innovators such as Anduril, Divergent, Google, Hadrian, and Palantir, all of whom are committed to revitalizing the domestic manufacturing landscape and enhancing national security.

Responding to Current Challenges

The creation of this survey comes on the heels of Executive Order 14415, which emphasizes the importance of securing America’s defense supply chains and ensuring the domestic acquisition of necessary materials. With rising global tensions and challenges in sourcing critical minerals, this initiative is timely and necessary. The survey aims to gauge the actual state of critical mineral supplies against the demands of the industrial sector, providing a comprehensive snapshot that reflects the realities faced by manufacturers.

Micah Murphy, Senior Vice President of NAIA, expressed enthusiasm about Exiger's involvement, stating, “We’re excited to welcome Exiger to NAIA and kick off this partnership with a revealing dive into both the pain points and opportunities across the critical minerals landscape for domestic manufacturers.” This collaboration aims to uncover where supply is currently lacking and identify potential opportunities for domestic producers.

The Importance of Critical Minerals

Critical minerals are essential for various industries, particularly in technology, energy, and defense. They include elements like lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth metals, which play a crucial role in the production of batteries, electronics, and defense systems. Without a reliable supply of these materials, the U.S. risks losing its competitive edge in key technological advances.

Exiger is employing its advanced AI capabilities and domain expertise to develop the survey, which focuses on where demand exceeds supply, down to the specific grades and purities required by manufacturers. This data will serve as a benchmark for policymakers to formulate proactive strategies addressing identified shortfalls.

Derek Lemke, Senior Vice President of Product Market Leadership at Exiger, remarked on the significance of this survey during a critical time, stating, “We’ve seen global bad actors attempt to weaponize the periodic table and leverage their control of critical mineral processing, refining, and exports.” The insights gained from the survey will help inform long-term policy decisions aimed at enhancing resilience in supply chains and ensuring the traceability of raw materials.

Collaborative Efforts and Future Implications

The survey is open to all stakeholders in the industry and aims to gather as much input as possible, a step that highlights the participatory nature of this initiative. The responses collected will contribute to a joint research report by Exiger and NAIA, which is expected to offer essential recommendations for policymakers, investors, and industrial partners. This report will be unveiled during the New Industrial Age Forum in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2026—a gathering designed to foster dialogue between industry leaders and policymakers.

Exiger’s commitment to transforming supply chain management is evident in its innovative platform, the 1Exiger, which provides comprehensive visibility into supplier ecosystems. Their mission extends beyond just business; it centers on making the world a safer, more transparent environment for all to thrive.

In a landscape where dependency on foreign supply chains is increasingly deemed a national security risk, this new collaboration represents a significant step towards securing America’s industrial future. By addressing the urgent challenges in the critical minerals sector, Exiger and the NAIA are setting the stage for a more resilient and self-sufficient manufacturing base in the United States.