REMADE Institute Unveils $4.86 Million Funding for Innovative Recycling Technologies

The REMADE Institute, a public-private partnership with 150 members formed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), has made headlines with its announcement of a significant $4.86 million investment in new technology research. This funding is aimed at bolstering materials recovery, remanufacturing, and recycling within the U.S. manufacturing sector.

On July 23, 2026, the Institute revealed that it will support 10 new research demonstration projects designed to advance technologies through their critical phases of development. Specifically, these projects are targeting what is known as the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6, with a goal of reaching TRL 7 by the conclusion of their respective projects. This focus is essential, as TRLs 4 to 7 represent a challenging area often referred to as the "Valley of Death." This term signifies a critical gap where promising advances in technology typically struggle to transition from initial research stages into commercial viability.

REMADE’s ambitious new projects are set to address this daunting gap, aiming not only to enhance the competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing but also to fortify the domestic supply chain. Moreover, these initiatives are expected to significantly reduce energy consumption associated with manufacturing processes, all while promoting a circular economy that emphasizes the reuse, remanufacturing, recovery, and recycling of essential materials such as critical minerals, rare earth elements, aluminum, textiles, electronic waste, steel, and paper.

Nabil Nasr, the CEO of REMADE, emphasized the importance of this funding initiative. He stated, "By focusing REMADE's investment on these projects, we are getting closer to fully commercializing these novel technology solutions. Once implemented, they will have a profound positive impact on energy consumption, manufacturing efficiency, environmental sustainability, and the economic landscape of our nation."

This funding round marks the seventh investment phase for REMADE, and the financial contributions will be shared between the Institute and the project recipients. Notably, some of these ten new projects include partnerships with entities new to REMADE, augmenting its existing collaborations with industry leaders and academic powerhouses such as Caterpillar, John Deere, Michelin, Nike, Adidas, MIT, RIT, Honda, and Volvo.

Magdi Azer, REMADE’s Chief Technology Officer, underscored the necessity for continuous investment in technology development through research institutes such as REMADE. He pointed out that prior to this funding round, the Institute had already facilitated six previous Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Azer stated, "This initiative exemplifies the founding purpose of the Manufacturing USA institutes established over a decade ago. The new DVV projects will explore innovative solutions to recover rare earth oxides from electronic scraps, engage advanced computer vision and AI to lower electronics recycling costs, and improve the recycling of various materials such as aerospace and automotive aluminum."

Since its inception in 2017, REMADE has orchestrated or selected 103 research and development and workforce projects, amounting to a striking total of $104 million in combined value. A detailed list of the new technology projects alongside their collaborating teams is accessible on REMADE’s website.

In summary, these developments herald a promising future for U.S. manufacturing within the context of a circular economy. By investing in groundbreaking technologies, the REMADE Institute is positioned to lead the charge toward innovative and sustainable practices in material recovery and recycling, ultimately benefitting both the economy and the environment.

For further information about the new REMADE projects, you can visit REMADE Institute's website.