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Toronto, ON
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January, 2026
Closing the Loop: Clean Technology for a Stronger Future
Setting the scene
Rare earth elements help power almost everything we use today, from electric cars and wind turbines to smartphones and even medical equipment. We depend on them every day, but mining rare earths comes with a heavy environmental cost — and because less than 1% are recycled, we lose these essential resources every time a product reaches its end-of-life cycle.
Cyclic Materials is changing that. Using cutting-edge technology, they recover rare earth elements from old electronics, batteries, motors, and other equipment, turning what would be waste back into high-quality materials for new products. Their circular approach helps Canada build a cleaner, more reliable supply of the critical minerals needed to power a greener future, all while dramatically reducing environmental impact.
Their process delivers:
- 60% lower carbon emissions than traditional mining
- 95% less water use than traditional mining
- Less reliance on overseas supply chains
How we helped
As a disruptive start-up, Cyclic Materials faced early-stage hurdles around regulations, funding, and scaling with limited resources. Their Innovation Advisor understood these challenges and knew which programs and partners could help. Quickly identifying the right supports, the Advisor acted as the company’s main liaison, coordinating efforts across government and industry to streamline the path forward. With everyone working toward the same goal, Cyclic Materials was able to move faster, stay focused, and scale with confidence.
AGS’s steadfast support has been instrumental in establishing Cyclic Materials as a leading player in rare-earth recycling. Their funding, technical expertise, and strategic connections helped us accelerate our journey, scale our technology faster, and open new horizons in the circular economy. With AGS championing clean tech, Canada’s leadership on the global innovation stage has never been stronger.
Ahmad Ghahreman,
Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO and Co‑Founder
The team
Research and development
National Research Council Canada (NRC) provided expert technical advice to help Cyclic Materials improve its production processes, reduce costs, and increase efficiency. This guidance strengthened the company’s technology and supported its transition from early innovation to larger-scale operations.
Funding and Capital
Cyclic Materials received key funding from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to validate, advance, and continue expanding its clean-tech innovation.
Through Business Development Canada’s (BDC) Climate Tech Fund, the company acquired the additional capital needed to scale its operations and strengthen Canada’s domestic clean-tech supply chain.
Secured additional funding from the Critical Minerals Research, Development and Demonstration (CMRDD) NRCan Program to build a Kingston demonstration plant.
Together, these funding partners helped Cyclic Materials accelerate growth at a pivotal stage.
International Partnerships and Global Expansion
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) helped Cyclic Materials build strategic international relationships by opening doors to global manufacturers, recycling networks, and supply-chain partners. This support provided access to new raw material sources and expanded the company’s global reach.
Export Development Canada (EDC) supported the company as it entered new markets, providing connections in Europe that helped secure new export contracts and reinforce Cyclic Materials’ position as an emerging leader in rare-earth recycling worldwide.
This 'whole-of-government' approach ensured that Cyclic Materials had access to the necessary tools, funding, and expertise to scale efficiently.
The impact
With support from AGS, Cyclic Materials has grown from a start-up into a thriving clean-tech company with operations across North America. They’re now recognized as a key player in the global circular economy, and their momentum keeps building.
The company recently announced plans to build North America’s first Centre of Excellence for rare earth recycling in Kingston, Ontario. The 13,000-square-meter facility will process up to 500 tonnes of end-of-use products each year and create 45 skilled jobs in the region. They were also named a 2025 Automotive D.R.I.V.E Honours Winner by Reuters Events for redefining how the automotive sector sources and recycles critical minerals.
With a strong support network behind them and growing recognition across the industry, Cyclic Materials is well-positioned to lead the future of rare earth recycling in Canada and beyond.
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