Developing Innovations Program

Invested to Date – $3,252,763

IMII’s Developing Innovations Program supports research seeking innovative solutions to mineral industry needs.

Grants up to $250,000 are available for a two-year project with an emphasis on those supporting or validating ‘new-to-mining’ technologies.

The Program can be the next step to:

• further investigate the outcomes of an Exploring Innovations project,
• research an industry defined problem discovered through industry collaboration or a call for proposals, or
• apply new methodology on previous research.

The goal is to develop innovative technologies, processes or applications that can be validated in a laboratory, tested in a simulated environment, or a model or prototype is developed.  Proof of concept demonstration is desired at the end of the project. Industry will want to see if:

• Technical merits have been sufficiently explored
• Advantages of the technology are consistent with initial expectations
• Commercialization potential has been identified and assessed
• Issues or problems have a path to resolution

Key elements to a project could include:

• A research design that seeks to solve a specific problem or provide innovative solutions to issues affecting the minerals industry
• Draw upon basic research results, literature searches, field research and discussion with industry experts
• A relevant laboratory or simulated environment
• Technical analysis that evaluates current technology options and limitations, and assessment of possible innovative approaches
• Screening, testing, and prioritizing of theories/methodologies/concepts
• Results – research report that demonstrates the initial feasibility of the technology developed

Projects are supported by IMII member’s industry experts and the IMII team.

Areas of interest are:

• Analytics solutions
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Digitization and automation
• ESG – environmental, social, and governance
• Extraction and processing
• Greenhouse gas emissions
• Modernizing core technologies
• Rock mass and geology technologies
• Sustainability
• Tailings management
• Workplace health and safety systems