The $60B Opportunity, page-9

More from GROK examining relationships between Tour et al & DARPA, DoD & DoE
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Key Points

• Dr. James Tour and Rice University have formal partnerships with the US Government, particularly the Department of Defense (DoD), through research grants.
• MTM Critical Metals (now Metallium) and Flash Metals USA are working towards partnerships with US Government agencies, including the DoD and Department of Energy (DoE), but no confirmed formal partnerships exist as of July 2025.
• There are informal connections through advisory roles and strategic alignments, especially with national security and critical minerals.

Formal PartnershipsDr. James Tour, a chemist at Rice University, has received significant funding from US Government agencies, notably the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the DoD. This includes an NSF grant for research on nanocars and a $12 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center for developing a soil pollutant removal process. His lab also received support from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research for battery recycling research, indicating strong formal ties with the DoD.Informal PartnershipsDr. Tour has served on defense-related advisory boards, such as the Defense Science Study Group and the Defense Science Board Chem/Nano Study Section, suggesting informal partnerships with the DoD. For MTM Critical Metals and Flash Metals USA, while no formal partnerships are confirmed, they have appointed Gregory Bowman, an expert in defense and public-private partnerships, to their advisory board to facilitate potential collaborations, particularly with the DoD and DoE.Future ProspectsFlash Metals USA, a subsidiary of MTM Critical Metals, is in discussions with US government agencies for potential financial support, aligning with strategic goals for critical minerals. However, as of July 2025, these discussions have not yet resulted in confirmed partnerships.Survey Note: Detailed Analysis of Partnerships with US Government, DARPA, DoE, and DoDThis survey note provides a comprehensive examination of the formal and informal partnerships between Dr. James Tour, Rice University, MTM Critical Metals (now Metallium), Flash Metals USA, and US Government entities, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Department of Energy (DoE), and Department of Defense (DoD), as of July 28, 2025. The analysis is grounded in recent news, company announcements, and academic funding records, reflecting the strategic importance of critical minerals and advanced materials in national security and technological innovation.Dr. James Tour and Rice University: Formal PartnershipsDr. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry at Rice University, has a robust history of receiving federal research funding, particularly from agencies aligned with national security and scientific advancement. A notable example is an NSF grant for his work on "Synthesis, Fluorescence Imaging and Tracking of Inherently Fluorescent Single-Molecule Nanocars," funded under award #1007483, which supports his research in nanotechnology [URL: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1007483]. This demonstrates formal collaboration with the NSF, a key US Government agency.More recently, in August 2024, Dr. Tour secured a $12 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, part of the DoD, to advance his rapid electrothermal mineralization (REM) process for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from soil [URL: https://houston.innovationmap.com/james-tour-rice-university-energy-transition-research-2668868326.html]. This four-year project aims to scale the process for large soil volumes and includes urban mining applications, highlighting a direct formal partnership with the DoD. Additionally, his lab's research on flash Joule heating (FJH) for lithium-ion battery waste purification has been supported by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, further evidencing DoD funding [URL: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/new-12m-research-project-aims-provide-practical-solutions-critical-environmental].Dr. James Tour and Rice University: Informal PartnershipsBeyond formal grants, Dr. Tour's involvement in defense-related advisory roles underscores informal partnerships with the DoD. His service on the Defense Science Study Group through the Institute for Defense Analyses and the Defense Science Board Chem/Nano Study Section reflects his engagement with national security research, providing expertise that aligns with DoD objectives [URL: https://jmtour.com/biography-dr-james-tour/]. These roles, while not direct funding, facilitate collaboration and influence policy, particularly in areas like nanotechnology and critical materials.Rice University's broader engagement with DARPA, while not directly involving Dr. Tour in all instances, includes significant projects such as an $840 million DARPA-funded initiative for microelectronics manufacturing, where Rice is a key partner [URL: https://news.rice.edu/news/2024/rice-researchers-advancing-microelectronics-manufacturing-darpa-funded-team]. Although Dr. Tour is not explicitly mentioned in this project, his materials science expertise could indirectly contribute to such efforts, suggesting potential informal ties.MTM Critical Metals and Flash Metals USA: Formal PartnershipsMTM Critical Metals, an Australian company listed on the ASX and OTCQB, and its US subsidiary Flash Metals USA, focus on advanced metal recovery using FJH technology licensed exclusively from Rice University. As of July 2025, there are no confirmed formal partnerships with US Government agencies, including DARPA, DoE, or DoD, based on available public records. However, recent developments indicate active pursuit of such collaborations. For instance, a June 2025 press release highlighted Flash Metals USA's 98% recovery rate of antimony from US e-waste, noting discussions with US government agencies for potential financial support [URL: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mtm-critical-metals-recovers-high-grade-antimony-from-us-e-waste-using-proprietary-flash-joule-heating-technology-302473482.html]. These discussions suggest ongoing efforts to secure formal partnerships, particularly with agencies like the DoE, given the technology's alignment with critical minerals strategies.MTM Critical Metals and Flash Metals USA: Informal PartnershipsFlash Metals USA has taken steps to strengthen informal ties with US Government entities, particularly the DoD. In July 2025, the company appointed Gregory Bowman, Chief Strategy Officer at Siemens Government Technologies and a retired US Army colonel, to its advisory board [URL: https://www.executivebiz.com/articles/gregory-bowman-metallium-flash-metals-usa-advisory-board]. Bowman's expertise in defense, public-private partnerships, and critical mineral supply chains is intended to guide Flash Metals USA's strategy, including onshoring advanced critical metals refining and aligning with US Government programs. This appointment marks the beginning of efforts to build a world-class advisory board, with advanced discussions ongoing with candidates from defense contracting and industrial investment sectors [URL: https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=600-202507071058PR_NEWS_USPRX____DA24951-1].Further evidence of informal alignment comes from company statements emphasizing eligibility for US government energy and technology security incentive programs, as seen on their website [URL: https://www.flashmetalsusa.com/]. A January 2025 article also noted MTM's intention to form partnerships with the DoD, DoE, and major industry players, reflecting a strategic focus on leveraging government support for critical metals recovery [URL: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/mtm-critical-metals-revolutionary-tech-could-supply-us-critical-gallium-needs-by-2025]. While these are not formal partnerships, they indicate a proactive approach to fostering collaboration.Comparative Analysis: Partnerships and Strategic AlignmentThe following table summarizes the partnerships and alignments:

	Entity	Formal Partnerships	Informal Partnerships
1	Dr. James Tour & Rice University	NSF grants, DoD grants ($12M U.S. Army, Air Force support)	Advisory roles with DoD, potential indirect DARPA involvement
2	MTM Critical Metals/Flash Metals USA	None confirmed as of July 2025, discussions ongoing	Advisory board with defense experts, aiming for DoD/DoE partnerships

Conclusion and Future OutlookDr. James Tour and Rice University have established formal partnerships with the US Government, particularly the DoD, through significant research funding, and maintain informal ties through advisory roles. MTM Critical Metals and Flash Metals USA, while lacking confirmed formal partnerships as of July 2025, are actively pursuing such relationships, leveraging the FJH technology's strategic importance. The appointment of defense experts and ongoing discussions with government agencies suggest a strong likelihood of future formal collaborations, especially given the national priority on critical minerals and domestic supply chains. This dynamic reflects a continuum from academic research to commercial application, with potential for increased government engagement in the near future.

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