Left to right: Dan Culhane, President, Ames Regional Economic Alliance; David J. Cook, President, Iowa State University; Karl Mueller, Director, Ames National Laboratory; Audrey Robertson, Assistant Secretary of Energy (EERE), Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI)
AMES, Iowa — March 20, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Ames National Laboratory has officially opened its new Advanced Magnet Facility (AMF) in Ames, Iowa, marking a significant investment in the nation’s capabilities in magnet science, critical materials research and next-generation energy technologies. Located on the campus of Iowa State University, the facility reinforces Iowa’s growing role in advanced research, innovation and high-tech manufacturing development.
Federal, academic and regional leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the facility’s strategic importance in strengthening domestic supply chains and advancing materials innovation. Attendees included Audrey Robertson, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) and head of the Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation; Kristen Ellis, Associate Principal Deputy Under Secretary for the Office of the Under Secretary for Science; Ames Laboratory Director Karl Mueller; Iowa State University President David J. Cook; and Dan Culhane, President of the Ames Regional Economic Alliance.
The Advanced Magnet Facility provides modernized laboratory space and advanced instrumentation that will expand research capabilities in magnetic materials and their applications across transportation, energy systems and national security. Leaders emphasized that the investment supports U.S. manufacturing competitiveness and reduces reliance on foreign sources of critical materials.
Ahead of the ceremony, DOE officials toured research programs showcasing Ames National Laboratory’s work in critical materials science, automated chemistry and artificial intelligence-enabled discovery. The laboratory is also advancing AI-driven scientific research through the DOE’s Genesis Mission, a national initiative designed to accelerate innovation and strengthen U.S. technological leadership.
“The opening of the Advanced Magnet Facility represents a major step forward in strengthening the nation’s capabilities in magnet science and critical materials,” said Karl Mueller, director of Ames National Laboratory. “By expanding our research infrastructure here in Iowa, we are accelerating the development of technologies essential to energy security, advanced manufacturing and national defense.”
Assistant Secretary Robertson noted that the facility will enable cutting-edge research to develop next-generation magnetic materials and components critical for transportation systems and industrial applications, while reinforcing the nation’s innovation ecosystem.
The AMF aligns closely with the work of the Critical Materials Innovation (CMI) Hub, an Energy Innovation Hub led by Ames National Laboratory and supported by DOE’s Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office. The hub focuses on accelerating the development of critical material technologies, strengthening supply chains and supporting workforce development through collaboration with U.S. industry.
DOE’s Transportation Technologies Office also supports research at Ames National Laboratory focused on developing novel magnetic materials for advanced motor designs and improving recycling and reuse of motor components — key priorities for addressing global supply chain challenges.
Operated by Iowa State University, Ames National Laboratory conducts interdisciplinary research to develop innovative materials, technologies and energy solutions. The laboratory is supported by DOE’s Office of Science, the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences.
The opening of the Advanced Magnet Facility underscores both the laboratory’s commitment to scientific excellence and Iowa’s expanding role as a hub for advanced manufacturing research, critical minerals innovation and energy technology development.
