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IFRNInnovation Hub
Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Norte
Currais Novos, RN · EMBRAPII Unit
SpecialtyMining and Rare Earth Technologies
Mineral processing · Hydrometallurgy · Critical minerals
Technology solutions for the mineral production chain, focused on critical minerals for the energy transition.
Renewable Energy and Energy Transition
6projects
R$ 9.3Minvested in R&D
6partner companies
OnlyEMBRAPII unit in rare earths in the Northeast
Highlights
- 84 years of tungsten tradition in Currais Novos
- National reference in rare earths
- EMBRAPII accreditation renewed until 2030
What IFRN develops
Solutions for companies
Infrastructure
- Chemical and mineralogical analysis laboratories
- 25 campuses covering all of RN
- Link with ApexBrasil for foreign companies
Projects by Call theme
Renewable Energy and Energy Transition6
Bioeconomy and Sustainable Agriculture0
Circular Economy0
Projects in the Hub's portfolio linked to each theme.
How to fund a project with the Hub
- EMBRAPII
- ANEEL R&D
- ANP (accreditation in progress)
- Lei do Bem (R&D tax incentive)
Funding instruments the Hub can work with.
Success story
Brasil FortescueGreen energy and critical minerals for the energy transition
R$ 2.15Mproject value
- Challenge
- Develop an optimized metallurgical route to extract rare earth elements from the company's samples.
- Solution
- Two-stage hydrometallurgical route: simple concentrate and rare earth carbonate.
- Result
- 4 technical reports with extraction data; the project is being extended through a contract amendment.
More results
- Green hydrogen with IFBAGreen H₂ plant in Bahia drawing on IFRN's mineral and chemical expertise.
- Scheelite wasteReuse of by-products from historical tungsten mining.
IFRN projects
All R&D projects the Hub has carried out with companies. Filter by theme or status, or search by topic and company.
Projects contracted with companies from 2023 to 2026, according to EMBRAPII data panels. Cancelled projects are not shown.
Does your company have a challenge in Mining and Rare Earth Technologies?
Submit your challenge to the Call for Innovation and select IFRN. The team will schedule an interview with the Hub to shape the project.
Submit a challenge to IFRN