REEgen is redefining the production of rare earth elements in a clean, responsible, and scalable manner. Founded to address one of the most pressing issues in the energy transition, REEgen develops sustainable microbial technologies to mitigate the environmental and geopolitical risks associated with the current rare earth value chain. Although China leads the way in the most critical steps of rare earth processing, REEgen is developing a cleaner and more circular solution that promotes global energy security.

The foundation of REEgen’s technology is biorecovery, which utilizes advanced bioextraction and bioseparation technologies to extract rare earth elements from ores and concentrates in a much cleaner and more environmentally responsible way than traditional processes. This technology decreases chemical intensity, waste generation, and the need for sustainable mineral production without performance or reliability trade-offs.

With a mission to revitalize the recovery of critical mineral resources for a future with secure, diverse, and sustainable energy systems, REEgen is founded on a vision of responsible resource use. By changing the way rare earth elements are processed from ore to oxide and beyond, REEgen is working to lay the groundwork for a cleaner technology future, a more secure supply chain, and a more sustainable mining industry globally.

REEgen’s Technology Offerings

Biology-Driven Technology for Clean REE Recovery

The key technology in REEgen’s solution is the use of genetically optimized bacteria to transform the extraction and separation of rare earth elements. Rather than relying on toxic chemicals, high temperatures, and energy-hungry technologies, REEgen relies on genetically engineered microbes that produce biodegradable organic acids to selectively extract valuable metals. The bioleaching and bioseparation techniques are carried out at low temperatures and pressures, making them much more environmentally friendly while still being highly efficient. With the help of advanced genetic engineering and high-throughput screening, REEgen is able to quickly optimize its microbial strains for a variety of feedstocks, ranging from ores to industrial waste. This “precision biology” enables more efficient extraction, better selectivity, and lower costs. By utilizing the power of biology, REEgen has developed a game-changing solution for the processing of rare earth elements that integrates performance, sustainability, and economic viability into a single solution.

Turning Industrial Waste into Strategic Resources

REEgen redefines waste as a resource by extracting rare earth elements from suboptimal and non-traditional sources of materials. Steel slag, coal fly ash, electronic waste, used catalysts, and other industrial by-products containing REEs are repurposed as resources, not hazards. By connecting with established recycling and industrial infrastructures, REEgen enables a closed-loop supply chain that maximizes material recovery and maximizes new mining. This method of rare earth element recovery not only enhances sustainability but also enhances supply chain sustainability as global demand continues to escalate. As the demand for rare earth elements continues to grow at a rate in excess of 12% per annum, the waste-to-resource model of REEgen provides a scalable, secure, and sustainable means of addressing future requirements without making the same mistakes as in traditional mining.

Securing the Future of Critical Materials

Rare earth elements are critical to clean energy, defense, and high-tech applications, but the current supply chain is very centralized and environmentally destructive. Because so much of the mining, separation, and refining of REEs is done in one country, the world faces grave challenges to its national security and economic well-being. This is the problem that REEgen seeks to solve. By combining biotechnology with mining innovation, REEgen mitigates environmental damage while making the rare earth supply chain more diverse and decentralized. The company’s clean, efficient methods also seek to mitigate the enormous environmental impact of traditional mining, including radioactive materials and high pollution levels. The purpose of REEgen’s work goes beyond its technology—it’s about empowering energy security, strengthening home and foreign supply chains, and creating a more sustainable foundation for the clean energy revolution. Where mining meets biotechnology, REEgen brings smarter, safer solutions for a secure future.

Alexa Schmitz - Co-Founder & CEO

“REEgen reduces environmental and security risks of conventional mining. It is committed to smarter methods for securing critical elements.”