Belfast-based magnet-recycling company SerenTech (now Ionic Technologies) has received a £1.72 million government grant to develop a magnet recycling plant, aimed at reducing waste and energy consumption associated with mining ores for rare earth metals. Originating as a spin-out resulting from Prof Peter Nockemann’s research at Queen's University in 2015, SerenTech's technology uses ionic liquid technology to efficiently separate metals, returning magnets to their original lifespan and efficiency. The grant will enable SerenTech/Ionic Technologies to scale up operations from pilot-scale recycling to an industrial scale of multiple tonnes, making it unique in Europe and worldwide. This expansion is expected to create 25 new jobs. The recycling plant will support the energy transition towards net zero by recycling magnets from electric cars and windmills, among other applications. As the global shift away from carbon intensifies, the importance of recycling of critical metals is expected to increase significantly.

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