11/18/2025
NSF LAUNCHES FIRST CHALLENGE BASED ON SPRIND MODEL
Tech Metal Challenge launched in the United States
The influence of the Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation extends across the Atlantic: yesterday, the US National Science Foundation (NSF), announced a new initiative to drive groundbreaking innovation in the US. The initiative is based on the SPRIND Challenges model and the result of a close partnership between NSF and SPRIND. The initiative, called STRIDE Ventures, supported by Start2, a leading global innovation company, is funded by the NSF, Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP).
The first Challenge is the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge, which provides funding and support to accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies that strengthen the US supply chain for critical and strategic metals.
The challenge is based on the German SPRIND Tech Metal Transformation Challenge and runs parallel to it. The application period for the German Sister Challenge
began on July 30, marking an important milestone in the collaboration with the NSF. In Germany, the application period ended on November 7, 2025, and more than 60 submissions are currently being reviewed.
As part of a multi-year, three-stage program led by STRIDE Ventures, up to eight teams in Stage 1 (10 months) will receive up to $2 million for research and development, up to six teams in Stage 2 (12 months) will receive up to $2.5 million each for market validation, and up to four finalists in Stage 3 (12 months) will receive up to $3 million for scaling and commercializing their technologies.
Like SPRIND, the Tech Metal Transformation Challenge supports groundbreaking innovations from research and development to market readiness through tiered funding and expert advice. The goal is to create a resilient, innovation-driven foundation for national material supply and manufacturing and to position itself as a leader in advanced metal processing.
ABOUT THE CHALLENGE
The Challenge calls for bold, interdisciplinary innovation integrating biological, chemical, and physical-mechanical processes to close this gap. Competing teams will design and demonstrate end-to-end prototype systems capable of extracting, converting, and reintroducing metals, including those from complex domestic waste streams, into high-performance materials that meet advanced manufacturing specifications.
The Tech Metal Transformation Challenge represents a shift in strategy, from dependence on traditional extraction pathways toward an innovation-driven model for domestic materials security. By developing processes that can transform secondary and unconventional sources into functional metals, the program aims to build a resilient foundation for current and future industries.
ABOUT STRIDE VENTURES
STRIDE Ventures is a national platform for breakthrough innovation, launched by NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) and Start2 Group. It supports bold, milestone-driven efforts to translate emerging technologies into real-world capabilities that advance U.S. competitiveness and resilience. By minimizing bureaucracy and maximizing momentum, STRIDE empowers teams to move fast, take risks, and deliver impact where it matters most.
ABOUT NSF TIP
The NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (NSF TIP) seeks to engage all Americans in accelerating critical and emerging technologies to advance U.S. competitiveness. The directorate partners across sectors to advance three strategies – accelerating critical and emerging technology, expanding the geography of American innovation and building a competition-ready workforce.
ABOUT START2 GROUP, INC.
Start2 Group is a global innovation leader taking startups to the next level in development and commercialization. As a premier startup ecosystem partner, Start2 Group serves as the destination for startups, governments, investors, and corporations to shape and scale ventures with growth potential.
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