Critical minerals are the raw material enablers of technologies needed for transition to a low carbon green economy. Resilience for the Future: The UK's first Critical Minerals Strategy (Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy, 2022; Department for Business and Trade, 2023) sets out the government's 'aCE' plan to secure the UK's supply chains by: accelerating growth of the UK's domestic capabilities; Collaborating with international partners; and, Enhancing international markets to make them more responsive, transparent and responsible. The UK recently released a new Industrial Strategy that defines eight growth sectors (eg digital, defence, advanced manufacturing etc) and will soon release an updated Critical Minerals Strategy expected to focus on growth' minerals (ie lithium, tin, tungsten etc), and to set out specific actions and targets for domestic production, international collaborations, and sustainable supply. South-west England is the leading UK region for potential production of critical minerals, with active exploration and development companies, a history of mining, and many service and equipment companies. The new Critical Minerals Challenge Centre for the accelerating the Green Economy (CMCC-aGE, 2025), is based in SW UK at the University of Exeter (funded by UKRI grant and project partner contributions). This new Centre builds on: previous research at the Camborne School of Mines, including Good Growth Prosperity Fund investments in equipment and laboratory facilities, and the Geo-resources sector strengthening activities; previous UKRI-funded research and circular economy roadmaps on Technology Metals (Met4Tech, 2025); as well as projects for the IUK-CLIMaTES programme. The CMCC will address critical minerals challenges encountered in exploration and extraction technologies, sustainable resource management (eg valorisation of mine wastes), and development of new analytical and geo-metallurgical protocols; along with new research in environment/ecology, social sciences/community, green jobs/skills, and sustainable green finance. These applied research activities will help address the challenges in accelerating the domestic production and responsible supply of critical minerals in the UK and globally.