On day two of PDAC 2026 in Toronto, Guy Bourassa, CEO of Scandium Canada Ltd. (TSXV: SCD), arrived for his interview moments after leaving a signing ceremony with Canada’s federal government—bringing with him news that underscores the growing strategic interest in scandium as a critical mineral. “I just came out of a signing ceremony with Minister Wilkinson of Natural Resources Canada,” Bourassa said. “We signed a contribution agreement for a grant under the GPI program—$6.9 million to accelerate development of our aluminum-scandium alloys and to complete bulk sampling for the feasibility study, including metallurgy.” The funding is intended to support both the company’s technology development and the advancement of its mining project in Quebec, reflecting Ottawa’s increasing focus on establishing domestic supply chains for materials tied to advanced manufacturing.
For Bourassa, the federal contribution represents more than financial support. It is also a signal that government officials see strategic value in what the company is attempting to build. “It’s very interesting because it confirms the value of our technology, our alloys, and the patent-pending work we have,” he said. “It also confirms our ability to partner globally for the benefit of Canada.” The project itself occupies a unique position in the North American market. “At some point they realized there’s only one new primary scandium source in North America, and it’s in Quebec, Canada,” Bourassa said. “They see the potential to speed up its development and bring value to the aluminum ecosystem in Quebec and Canada so we can become a world leader in aluminum alloys.”
The strategic importance of scandium lies not in its volume but in its impact when alloyed with aluminum. Even in small quantities, scandium can significantly strengthen aluminum while improving its weldability and resistance to cracking—properties highly sought after in aerospace, defense, and next-generation manufacturing technologies. “Some of these alloys are also needed in defense and aerospace applications,” Bourassa noted. “So while global tensions are negative for many parts of the world, they do highlight the importance of materials like scandium.” That growing awareness appears to be spreading beyond policymakers and into industry discussions. “We’re seeing forums and sub-forums focused specifically on Scandium Canada, and more broadly on scandium itself,” Bourassa said. “There are definitely more eyes on the sector now.”
The company has been working for several years to develop proprietary aluminum-scandium alloys designed for additive manufacturing, an area of advanced production that continues to expand rapidly. “Since 2022 we’ve developed new aluminum-scandium alloys that are suitable for 3D printing,” Bourassa explained. “Initially this involved laser bed fusion, which requires powder. You produce ingots, pulverize them into very specific particle sizes, and then print with them.” More recently, the company expanded that technology platform into welding wire applications, opening the possibility for manufacturers to use a broader range of advanced fabrication systems. “Now we’ve expanded the technology to include welding wire,” Bourassa said. “This allows manufacturers to use different types of machines for advanced manufacturing.”
One of the key technical breakthroughs, Bourassa explained, lies in how the alloy behaves during the welding or fusion process. Conventional aluminum alloys often develop micro-cracks as they cool, limiting their use in structural applications. “Our alloys do not generate micro-cracks when they cool after welding or fusion,” he said. “That means they can be used in primary structural parts, such as aircraft components, which isn’t possible today.” The implication is significant: materials capable of maintaining structural integrity in additive manufacturing could open new design possibilities for aerospace and other industries seeking lighter, stronger components.
While the alloys division advances toward commercial partnerships and potential sales, the mining project that would ultimately supply the scandium continues to move through its development stages. “On the mining side, we’re planning a drilling campaign this summer to obtain more material for a large bulk sample needed for the feasibility study,” Bourassa said. “At the same time, we’re advancing a pre-feasibility study targeted for completion by summer 2026.” The two business units—mining and advanced materials—are being developed on parallel tracks. “These two activities are moving forward independently, and we believe the alloys division will reach commercial sales well before the mine begins production,” Bourassa said.
PDAC itself also serves as a practical venue for discussions around infrastructure and partnerships necessary to support the project. Bourassa noted that many of his meetings during the convention were with government representatives and Indigenous communities connected to the territory where the project is located. “My main objective is meetings with government representatives—both federal and Quebec—as well as First Nations,” he said. “We’re discussing the development of an access road to the territory that would connect the mine to Schefferville. PDAC is a great place to meet everyone in one location over a few days.”
Commercial interest in the alloys technology is already emerging. The federal grant announced in Toronto is linked to a memorandum of understanding signed with Gränges Metal in Germany, a global supplier of aluminum products. “Our federal grant is tied to an MOU signed with Gränges Metal in Germany,” Bourassa said, adding that several additional potential partners are evaluating the company’s materials but have not yet been publicly disclosed. “They are waiting for our new materials so they can test them and confirm the specifications.”
The relationship with Gränges itself began unexpectedly. “Interestingly, our relationship with Gränges began with a simple press release,” Bourassa said. “They read it and emailed us saying that if our claims were confirmed, they wanted to work with us. Two weeks later we had an MOU signed.” For Bourassa, that reaction reflects something fundamental about the scandium market today: those who understand the technical potential recognize quickly when a new development emerges. “It shows that people who understand scandium alloys recognize the significance of what we’ve developed.”
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