Milestones mounted after the Argentina-based startup Alkemio took part in the UN Science, Technology and Innovation Forum this year. Alkemio signed multiple letters of intent with mining companies, secured a services agreement with an oil and gas firm, and landed its first commercial pilot deployment in the United States, Ailín Svagzdys, Co-Founder & Chief Research Officer, told Engineering for Change. That momentum traces back in part to the 2025 STI Forum, which spotlights early-stage innovations with the potential to address global challenges, particularly in low-resource settings. The Forum invites select startups to share scalable ideas with an international audience of policymakers, researchers, and technical experts. Alkemio was one of just ten startups featured in the forum this year.
Alkemio Technologies specializes in the extraction of rare earth elements using organic acid leaching combined with a proprietary ultra-high selective adsorption process. Its modular refining approach enables on-site metal extraction, reducing transportation costs, improving efficiency, and helping create closed-loop domestic supply chains.
In the Q&A below, Ms. Svagzdys reflects on how the STI Forum helped sharpen the company’s messaging and visibility. She also shares what comes next as Alkemio prepares to build and deploy its US pilot plant.
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- Photo courtesy of Ailín Svagzdys / Alkemio
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- Photo courtesy of Ailín Svagzdys / Alkemio
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- Photo courtesy of Ailín Svagzdys / Alkemio
E4C: Would you recommend joining the STI Forum showcase to other innovators?
AS: Yes, absolutely. The showcase provided a unique opportunity to present our technology to a highly engaged and multidisciplinary audience. It helped us refine how we communicate the impact of our work and offered thoughtful feedback.
E4C: Have you been able to leverage connections from your time there?
AS: Yes. We made several meaningful connections, but the most valuable benefit was the visibility it brought to our project. Participating in an event of that scale opened many doors for follow-up conversations with potential partners and stakeholders, and it helped reinforce the credibility and momentum behind our work.
E4C: Have you had a notable success since the showcase?
AS: Yes. Since the showcase, we have:
• Signed five LOIs with mining companies across Latin America and the United States.
• Executed an MSA with an oil & gas company to process drill cuttings.
• Signed our first commercial agreement to deploy a pilot unit in the United States.
E4C: What is next for Alkemio?
AS: Our next major milestone is the construction and deployment of our pilot plant in the U.S., which will generate the process validation and operational data needed for our next steps.
