Armed with the common goal of pushing the innovation envelope, four of the leading research companies have officially come together under one Sudbury roof for the first time.
Located on the fourth floor of the Willet Green Miller Centre on the Laurentian University campus, the new mining research cluster will allow these industry-focused companies to work more closely and network more easily.
The move brings together a number of industry-related entities, including the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) and the Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO). The Canadian Mining Industry Research Organization (CAMIRO), as well as the Mines and Aggregates Safety and Health Association (MASHA) are also now part of the group.
“Having everyone together like this will simplify a lot of things for everyone here,” says Peter Kaiser, president and CEO of CEMI.
“We’ll be able to demonstrate the critical mass of knowledge we’re building and the cutting-edge research that’s being done, and the partnerships that need to be formed to do it.”
Despite the wealth of industry-related needs and support present in the Sudbury basin, Kaiser admits he realizes that the industry needs of a community of 150,000 is an insufficient basis for being competitive at the international level.
Instead, CEMI needs to take a broader perception to truly shine, he says.
In other words, the only way to become a “world-class networked research centre” is by seeking to support not only industry’s research needs, but also mining companies, exploration companies, as well as supply and services companies.
Establishing a central research node such as this, says Kaiser, is an important step in achieving that goal.
The official ribbon-cutting of the centre in late August also shone a light on the many research projects currently underway throughout the various institutions. These covered a broad scope of topics, ranging from deep mine insulation to heat stress and even to the development of sensors to identify small high-density orebodies.
Tom Lane, director of research development with CAMIRO, outlined some of the projects being undertaken by his organization, including the more effective identification of indicator minerals for nickel deposits.
Lane argued the industry needs greater champions for its research needs, but is hamstrung by a lack of time due to the sheer level of activity, and occasionally unrealistic expectations.
“As an industry, we’re always short on minds, and we’re even shorter on good ideas, so it’s great that we have a new initiative here to collectively get together and network, both locally and internationally,” says Lane. “We’re trying to get the level of research and development past the suggestion box in the mines.”
Alex Gryska, manager of the Ontario mine rescue program with MASHA, agreed that such collaboration is important, particularly as his organization is already working with Laurentian University and MIRARCO as research partners.
In turn, MIRARCO President Steve Hall hailed the formation of the cluster as a strong and perhaps natural move given the interconnectedness of many of these institutions.
Its own staffing levels have begun to soar as its research initiatives have grown. Its workforce has effectively doubled in less than a year, going from 31 staff in January of this year to more than 70.
While the official unveiling of this new mining research cluster was marked as an important event by all involved, it was underscored by who wasn’t there: namely, federal industry minister Jim Prentice, who was literally down the road at Science North. He was announcing $830,000 in funds for various local projects.
A lack of federal support for CEMI has been a sticking point. Recently, FedNor officially turned down CEMI’s request for $9.5 million over five years, issuing a statement that the project does not fit into the agency’s mandate.
Still, Kaiser says he expects there to be some potential for funding through various other federal agencies.
