America's solar company endows professorship at university to advance research into securing critical energy materials supply chains.

Just days after Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) announced its expanding role in advancing U.S. critical minerals research, America's leading solar company and world's largest producer of solar panels, First Solar, Inc., has entrusted the university with an endowed professorship dedicated to advancing critical energy materials research and education.

"We recognize Missouri S&T's unparalleled depth of expertise in responsible production of critical energy materials, and we're pleased to be able to help ensure that this endures into the future," said Mike Koralewski, chief supply chain officer at First Solar. "Our relationship is a great example of what's possible when industry and academia work together to secure critical supply chains."

Already sharing many years of collaboration, with Michael Moats, professor and chair of materials science at Missouri S&T, advising First Solar on strategies for ensuring sustainable and affordable supplies of tellurium – a fundamental element in the cadmium-telluride thin-film photovoltaic modules that set the company apart in the global solar market – this latest partnership reflects a continued mutual commitment to securing supply chains for critical energy materials.

With a foundation rooted in critical minerals research and home to the Thomas J. O'Keefe Center for Critical Minerals, Missouri S&T's role extends far beyond academia, serving as a hub for innovation and collaboration that directly addresses the nation's growing demand for sustainable supply chains.

Hosting events like the Resilient Supply of Critical Minerals workshop and leading initiatives such as the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub, Missouri S&T has consistently demonstrated its capacity to drive progress across the entire supply chain, from policy and economics to the development of cutting-edge materials and technologies.

These efforts are further bolstered by the Kummer Institute's transformative investments, including the Missouri Protoplex and a $28.5 million federal commitment to construct an 18,000-square-foot test-bed facility, both of which will position the university as a powerhouse in critical minerals research and advanced manufacturing.

This legacy of innovation and leadership in critical minerals research is precisely why First Solar has chosen Missouri S&T, the Show-Me State's premier research institution, to spearhead advancements in the sustainable production and supply of critical energy materials.

By endowing a professorship in this field, First Solar is not only investing in cutting-edge research but also cultivating the expertise needed to address the growing challenges of global supply chains, ensuring that the U.S. remains a leader in the green energy transition.

"The position will plug into our team and complement the expertise we already have throughout the supply chain, from policy and economics to cleaning up afterwards," said Moats. "The generosity and foresight of First Solar will enhance our ability to impact the nation and the world."

Further, this position is more than just an investment in academia; it is a strategic move to fortify the nation's supply chains by addressing vulnerabilities in critical materials production and education.

"The fact is, other economies dominate the global market for certain elements, and when restrictions are placed on those elements, there's the potential to disrupt manufacturing, slow down our fight against climate change and impact our national security," added Moats. "By ensuring that extractive metallurgy is taught at a college level, First Solar is helping us address these challenges."

This reality has already begun to unfold, with China's recent export bans on critical materials like gallium, germanium, and antinomy serving as a stark reminder of how geopolitical decisions can ripple through global supply chains.

By establishing this endowed professorship, First Solar is making a strategic investment that extends beyond immediate research goals. Designed to provide sustained financial support, endowments secure critical academic roles and programs for the long term, ensuring that Missouri S&T can continue developing the expertise needed to tackle global supply chain challenges.

This role represents a commitment to cultivating the next generation of innovators and leaders essential to advancing critical energy materials and fortifying the nation's green energy future.

"As America's solar company, we want to help enhance our country's critical mineral security by enabling Missouri S&T," said Koralewski. "If discoveries made as part of our collaboration with Missouri S&T can be disseminated and more widely adopted, it will have a much more meaningful impact."