Vulcan Elements Wins ARPA-E Funding to Develop Post-Rare-Earth Magnets
Durham – October 15, 2026 -- Vulcan Elements, a U.S. rare earth magnet manufacturer, will lead a three-year research project funded by the U.S. Department of Energy's ARPA-E to develop magnetic materials potentially more powerful than rare earth magnets, the company announced.
Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Piotr Kulik will head the effort. The project was competitively selected for ARPA-E funding. Kulik is also an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida (UCF).
Project targets magnets that exceed current performance limits with less rare earth input
The work covers discovery, modeling, synthesis and validation of new high-performance magnetic materials. According to the source, the research could yield magnets that surpass current limits on magnetic performance while reducing requirements for rare earth inputs.