China’s rare-earth schools are giving Beijing a talent edge as Western governments spend billions to reduce their dependence on Chinese refining, a Reuters examination found.
Reuters identified 41 dedicated rare earth laboratories and institutes in China. It also found at least 11 universities and technical colleges that enrol more than 500 students each year in rare earth degree programs.
Many of those institutions are located near mines and refineries in Baotou, Inner Mongolia. The city lies near the world’s largest rare earths mine and hosts companies that process minerals into magnets.
China, an East Asian country with Beijing as its capital, uses that talent base to support its refining industry. The materials power jet engines, electric vehicles and wind turbines.
US President Donald Trump and other Western leaders have pledged major investments to loosen China’s grip on rare earth supply chains.
However, Reuters said it could not find any school outside China that offers a specific undergraduate degree in rare earths.
Read: Goldman Sachs Warns of Rare Earth Supply Risks from China’s Dominance
Several US institutions have added more content on rare earths to their courses. Ames National Laboratory in Iowa also has a strong reputation for rare-earth research.
US education data shows a smaller talent pool. The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration said US institutions awarded just over 200 undergraduate mining and metallurgical engineering degrees in 2023.
Mining executives and professors told Reuters that many US students view mining as dirty and outdated. That perception has made recruitment more difficult for Western rare-earth projects.
