Canada Mining Innovation Council
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CMIC History

Why create the CMIC?

Despite efforts, Canada is falling short in linking industry needs to public/private R&D capability. Some of the challenges the Canadian mining sector faces in regards to R&D, innovation, and commercialization include:

Lack of efficient and cost-effective access to R&D capacity

Shortage of qualified engineers and scientists, coupled with a decrease in enrolment in university mining departments

Mining research often occurs in silos, so researchers may be competing for funding when they could be collaborating

Lack of collaboration results in duplication of research and gaps in other areas

Lack of comprehensive knowledge of the research community in Canada has resulted in some companies looking offshore for research support.

To address these challenges, CMIC was created as a consortium of industry, academic and government leaders whose purpose is to strengthen the competitiveness of a responsible Canadian mining industry by rebuilding mining research excellence across Canada.  

The Council's overarching objectives are to:

  • Increase mining research, innovation and commercialization efforts in order to strengthen Canada's pre-eminent role as a global leader in mineral exploration, mining and knowledge-based services and technologies
  • Explore technological solutions to advance sustainable mining, meet environmental standards and regulations, reduce costs, increase value-added, and protect the health and safety of workers
  • Increase the supply of highly qualified graduates from mining and earth science faculties to meet the significant demand today and into the future of industry, governments and academia

CMIC Milestones

  • September 2007: Federal, Provincial, and Territorial Mines and Energy Ministers endorse the creation of a new research and innovation network (CMIC) at their annual conference, and call for the development of a Pan-Canadian mining research and innovation strategy to be presented a year later.
  • Spring 2008: CMIC seeks the input of more than 150 leaders from industry, government, associations, research centres and academia through a series of regional workshops held in Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Toronto, Val-d'Or, Montreal and Halifax.
  • Spring 2008: CMIC commissions four expert papers covering the full mining cycle on: key areas of research needs in Canada and available expertise; provincial and territorial mining strategies; scan on international mining strategies; and federal funding mechanisms for mining R&D.
  • May 2008: CMIC Transition Board develops the Pan-Canadian Mining Research and Innovation Strategy. It consists of goals, expected results, and draft actions in five priority areas: Targeted Areas for Research and Innovation; People and Skills; Collaboration; Innovation Systems and Culture; and Brand, Visibility and Reputation.
  • September 2008: Pan-Canadian Mining Research and Innovation Strategy is presented at the Mines and Energy Ministers Conference and unanimously endorsed.
  • Fall 2008: Four Working Groups are established to address the themes of: environment (energy, water, tailings and effluent management), exploration, deep mining, and process efficiency.
  • December 2008 & January 2009: Workshops are held for each Working Group to identify priority projects on a national scale for early implementation.
  • Winter 2009: CMIC endorses Natural Resources Canada's Green Mining Initiative as its main vehicle to cover its environment priority.
  • March 2009: CMIC is incorporated.
  • August 2009: The first CMIC Executive Director is hired on a one-year contract.
  • November 2009: The second issue of InnovaMine, CMIC's newsletter, is published.
  • July 2010: The first issue of the CMIC monthly electronic newsletter is sent.
  • August 2010: Our second Executive Director is hired.
  • August 2010: A revised membership fee structure is adopted by the Board
  • October 2010: CMIC co-sponsors, with the International Cyanide Management Institute, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC), Barrick Gold Ltd., and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), the first Cyanide Code workshop to be held in Vancouver, Canada.