It's getting to be late in the year and I'm not so sure about Canada Growth Fund funding this year, but I would say there's still a very good chance of landing some of the other forms of government funding this year as Robin alluded to during his last (Sep 29) interview, i.e. he indicated FT was working with governments on both sides of the border who are processing their grant applications. As far as the Rio Tinto collaboration is concerned and given their clout, it certainly bodes well for improving the chances of receiving US DPA Title III funding (and for that matter, Canadian), in that the planned activities with RT are fully aligned with the DPA areas of interest, i.e.
The following are Strategic & Critical Materials DIB Areas of Interest:
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Feasibility Studies: This includes comprehensive technical and economic study of a selected development option for a strategic and critical material project that includes appropriately detailed assessments of realistically assumed extraction, processing, metallurgical, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social, and governmental considerations, together with any other relevant operational factors and detailed financial analysis, that are necessary to demonstrate at the time of reporting that production is reasonably justified. ...
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Modernization and Productivity Improvements: This includes deployment and integration of flowsheet modifications to increase process efficiency and strategic and critical materials recovery ...
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Recycling and Reclamation: This includes the recovery of strategic and critical materials from in-process waste streams — such as scrap or slag ...
https://www.businessdefense.gov/ibr/mceip/dpai/dpat3/docs/announcements/UkraineSupplmentalFundsfortheDPATitleIIIFund.pdf As far as Canada is concerned, FT's business is very much aligned with the requirements of the Strategic Innovation Fund, i.e.
- target 1 or more of the 31 minerals Canada has identified as "critical", with priority given to the 6 most significant minerals: lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth elements
- promote the integration of multiple segments of the critical minerals value chain, including the processing, refining, materials manufacturing, recycling, and reuse of critical minerals in Canada
- add value to Canada's natural resources by developing highly-innovative projects that grow Canada's critical mineral industries, such as the integration of first-in-class technologies or development of new processing capacity
- strengthen Canada's competitive position in critical minerals markets with investments to develop new industrial capacity to produce the materials needed for strategic manufacturing sectors, including automotive and digital communication industries
- align with 1 or more of the areas of focus for critical minerals investment, while ensuring connections into value chains with high potential for national integration
- demonstrate the financial and technical capability needed to successfully complete the project, including appropriate financial statements, engineering design, and feasibility studies