CoTec to Collaborate with The University of Birmingham to Identify and Commercialize Technologies Related to the Critical Minerals Industry

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / September 1, 2023 / CoTec Holdings Corp. (TSXV:CTH)(OTCQB:CTHCF) ("CoTec" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered a Memorandum of Understanding ("MoU") for a collaboration with the University of Birmingham to identify and commercialize disruptive technologies related to the critical mineral extraction industry.

The collaboration will focus on potential opportunities to commercialize the University's low carbon, disruptive technologies in the mineral extraction industry. The University of Birmingham will contribute its depth of research knowledge while CoTec will provide its extensive industry experience, network and access to potential operating assets.

This agreement complements CoTec's existing relationship with the University of Birmingham through its rare earth investments in Mkango Resources Ltd ("Mkango") and Maginito Limited ("Maginito"). Maginito, which is currently owned by Mkango and CoTec on a 90%/10% basis, owns HyProMag Limited ("HyProMag"). HyProMag's rare earth magnet recycling technology was originally developed by the University of Birmingham and demonstrates how academic research and development can be commercially scaled up and rolled out into industry.

Mr. Julian Treger, CEO of the Company commented, "We are very excited about the opportunity to work with the University of Birmingham and support its research programs which collaborate with the UK's leading researchers, businesses, policy makers and other stakeholders. We are optimistic that this relationship will develop into a long-term platform to roll out applicable, low cost, low carbon, scalable technologies which we believe will be successful in supplying critical minerals into the industry.

"One of CoTec's core strategies is to partner with technology developers to assist them in commercializing new and environmentally friendly ways of supplying the world with the materials it needs for the energy transition. The University of Birmingham is one of the UK's leading research and development institutions, and this relationship, along with our existing investment in Maginito, demonstrates CoTec's commitment to this strategy."

Professor Allan Walton, Co-Director of the Birmingham Centre for Strategic Elements and Critical Materials, commented "The agreement to collaborate with CoTec provides an exciting opportunity to work with an extremely experienced industrial team in critical minerals.

"The guidance provided by CoTec will be an important part of our technology development plans. BCSECM has a track record of taking clean technologies to market, and this agreement significantly enhances the centres capability to develop processes at higher technology readiness level, leading to real world impact".