The Rare Earth Elements Research Institute was established to provide the scientific environment required for research and development activities in different fields for the production and development of new technological products, and to conduct, commission, coordinate and contribute to scientific research in cooperation with public institutions and organisations, universities and industry that use rare earth elements (REEs) and their products and/or conduct research in this field. Pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 57, published in Official Gazette No. 31082 dated 28.03.2020,the organization has been continuing its activities under the umbrella of TENMAK with the name; TENMAK NATEN.

TENMAK NATEN, nadir toprak elementleri ve diğer elementler konusunda ülkemizin kısa, orta ve uzun dönem politika ve stratejileri için gerekli bilgileri oluşturan, NTE ve diğer değerli elementler ve ürünlerinin elde edilmesi, bu elementlere ilişkin ürün ve teknolojilerin geliştirilmesi ve bu elementlerin gelişmiş teknolojik ürünlerde geniş bir şekilde kullanımının sağlanması amacıyla araştırmalar yürüten ve destekleyen bir araştırma enstitüsüdür.

Rare earth elements (REEs) comprise the lanthanide group - lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium and lutetium, with atomic numbers 57-71 in the periodic table - as well as scandium (atomic number 21) and yttrium (atomic number 39), which have similar chemical properties and are generally found together with them in nature

Owing to their generally soft and easily formable structural properties, rare earth elements (REEs) are characterized by their reactivity.These lustrous, iron-grey and silvery elements have distinctive magnetic and optical properties. REEs are divided into light and heavy categories: scandium and elements with atomic numbers 57-64 are classified as light rare earth elements, while elements with atomic numbers 65-71 and yttrium are classified as heavy rare earth elements.

Although relatively abundant in the Earth's crust, REEs generally occur together as oxide compounds thus they have not been grouped. Owing to the difficulty of reducing their oxides to metals and the relative rarity of encountering such conditions, they became known as 'rare earth elements'.

Other elements having critical importance for obtaining industrial elements which are based on space technology, aviation, high-energy physics, nuclear power plants and chemical processes also fall within NATEN's research and work programme.

Our Institute's Mission

Our Institute's Vision

To be a leading research centre that enables Türkiye to become a globally influential country in scientific, technological and strategic terms in the field of rare earth elements, and aiming to develop solutions that can be integrated into advanced technologies and to provide these elements to convert into added value with domestic resources

Duties of Our Institute

TENMAK NATEN carries out the following principal duties in order to increase Türkiye's scientific, technological and industrial capacity in strategically important rare earth elements (REEs) and other valuable elements:

Conduct and Support R&D Activities

Conduct research and development projects for the development of new products, processes and technologies relating to rare earth elements; promote the generation of knowledge and technology by supporting cooperation between the public sector, universities and industry.

Provide Scientific Infrastructure and Laboratory Facilities

Establish the technical equipment and scientific environment needed to conduct REE research and provide laboratory support to researchers.

Contribute to Policy and Strategy Development

Generate data, conduct analyses and prepare reports to support the development of Türkiye's short-, medium- and long-term rare-element policies.

Develop Cooperation with the Public and Private Sectors

Develop joint projects with public institutions, universities and private-sector representatives active in the REE field, and contribute to the sharing of knowledge and experience.

Produce Scientific Publications and Organise Events

Organise seminars, workshops, conferences and similar events to share up-to-date knowledge in the field, and produce scientific publications.

Develop New Areas of Application

Develop solutions to expand the use of REEs in advanced technology fields such as the defence industry, electronics, optics and energy technologies.

Establish International Cooperation and Monitoring Mechanisms

Monitor REE policies and technological developments globally, and establish the infrastructure and networks required to represent Türkiye in international projects.