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UA among 15 finalists for NSF critical minerals proposal that could bring $160 million

Alaska Senate Finance Subcommittee on the University of Alaska budget · March 12, 2026

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Summary

Pat Pitney said the University of Alaska is one of 15 finalists for a National Science Foundation critical minerals proposal; winning would mean a $160 million award over ten years with an expectation of $3 million per year in matching support.

The University of Alaska is one of 15 finalists for a National Science Foundation proposal focused on critical minerals, University President Pat Pitney told the Senate Finance subcommittee on March 12.

Pitney said four finalists will be awarded and that the proposal, if successful, would bring approximately $160 million over 10 years and would carry an expectation of a $3 million annual match from the university or partners. She described the NSF possibility as a direct payoff from earlier state investments: the university made a roughly $7 million investment several years ago that Pitney said improved competitiveness for federal research awards.

"If we win that proposal, we will have an NSF critical minerals engine, and that award is a $160,000,000 over 10 years," Pitney said on the record. She also described related research priorities in energy, drones/defense and Arctic policy and noted the potential economic development benefits tied to those research areas.

Committee members and Pitney discussed the match expectation and how state investments made earlier increased competitiveness for federal awards. No formal action was taken at the hearing.