Tonnes of rare earth elements – essential for technology such as electric vehicles, wind turbines and smart phones – could be recycled in future thanks to £15 million of government funding for cutting-edge research to strengthen supply of critical materials. Rare earth elements are a family of critical minerals used in a wide range of products, ranging from laptops to aircraft. But supply chains are complex and markets are volatile, with most critical minerals sourced from just a handful of countries. This leaves UK jobs and industries vulnerable to market shocks and geopolitical events, which is why the government is working to help UK firms establish resilient and sustainable access to critical minerals.