(Saskatoon SK:) The International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) today announced a new awards program that recognizes outstanding innovations of benefit to the Saskatchewan minerals industry. In this inaugural year, the Best Prototype Award will be awarded for the first time on the evening of the 10th Annual Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum in April 2018 in Saskatoon.
To be selected from among technologies submitted by Saskatchewan companies, this award for the best prototype will represent the most innovative emerging technology from the supply chain for the minerals industry in the province.
The winning prototype will demonstrate that it solves a significant problem for the minerals industry, offers a noteworthy value proposition (e.g., an advantage over existing technologies in reducing GHG or air emissions, minimizing land disturbance, improving waste management practices, improving the energy efficiency of operations, reducing water use, enhancing safety), and has the potential to become commercially available to the industry in 12 to 36 months.
“The Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum has become a top destination for mineral companies and mining suppliers alike, and a showcase for new and innovative technology,” says Al Shpyth, IMII executive director. “We are pleased to launch our first innovation award in association with the Forum and help recognize the innovative capacity of mining supply chain companies in Saskatchewan.”
The application form can be found at www.imii.ca/innovation. The award winner will be considered for funding under IMII’s Operationalizing Innovations program, and may be a candidate for the Saskatchewan Commercial Innovation Incentive if subsequently commercially developed in the province. All nominations are to be received by IMII by the deadline of January 31, 2018, and will undergo a merit-review selection process involving representatives of IMII’s funding members (Agrium, BHP, Cameco, K+S Potash, Mosaic and PotashCorp) and Innovation Saskatchewan.
For more information, eligibility requirements, and the application form, please visit the Innovation Awards page of the IMII website (https://www.imii.ca/).
For more information about the Saskatchewan Supply Chain Forum, please visit http://saskmining.ca/Mines-in-Saskatchewan/Saskatchewan-Mining-Supply-Chain%20-Forum.
