Through funding received to date, University of Kentucky researchers have established the Strategic Materials and Recovery Technologies (SMaRT) Center to enhance the reputation of the University as a center of excellence in critical materials. The center will utilize an administrative structure that will support faculty members and research professionals across the UK campus in the submission of research proposals and meeting report requirements.

The research focus of the center will include the development of technologies that advance the processing of critical materials from the initial resource to purified metal production. The initial funding for the center will be utilized to gain a competitive advantage for national center funding from organizations such as the National Science Foundation. Ultimately, it is the goal of the proposed center to be broadly recognized as a center of excellence in critical materials through the development of innovative technologies, educational contributions, research funding, intellectual property products, and peer-reviewed journal publications.