CEMI Announces Funding for Ten Innovative Mining Projects Through MICA Network
Toronto, Ontario – June 24, 2024 – The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) is pleased to announce the third cohort of projects to receive funding from the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network. The initiative, designed to support groundbreaking Canadian mining technologies, will see ten projects share $2.4 million in funding. These projects, collectively valued at $24 million, aim to enhance the productivity and sustainability of the mining sector while bolstering the Canadian economy.
With the global demand for critical minerals increasing, and a pressing need for sustainable mining practices, MICA’s funding focuses on innovative solutions that address these challenges. The funded projects span four key technical themes: increasing mine production capacity at a lower cost, reducing mining energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, implementing smart autonomous mining systems, and reducing environmental risk and long-term liabilities.
The selected projects are:
- Glacies Technologies Inc. (QC) will receive $250,000 to demonstrate a 10% scale heating reactor designed to prevent underground icing using eco-friendly methods.
- MineSense (BC) will receive $250,000 to trial its ShovelSense technology, which differentiates ore and waste in real-time during underground mining operations.
- H2nanO Inc. (ON) will receive $250,000 to advance its SolarPass and Oasis technologies for mine water treatment and tailings management.
- Enviro Integration Strategies Inc. (SK) will receive $234,010 to develop an all-in-one risk governance platform for mine waste infrastructure.
- pH7 Technologies Inc. (BC) will receive $250,000 to implement a sustainable heap-leaching process for extracting copper from low-grade ores.
- FREDsense Technologies Corp. (AB) will receive $187,000 to commercialize a portable sensor for selenium analysis in mining water.
- LoopX Innovation Inc. (ON) will receive $250,000 to develop an AI-powered tagless collision avoidance system for underground mining vehicles.
- ElectroKinetic Solutions Inc. (ON) will receive $250,000 to demonstrate the dewatering performance of its EKS-DT Technology in tailings storage.
- Symboticware (ON) will receive $250,000 to enhance its SymBot IIoT platform with satellite-to-cellular technology, improving connectivity for mining fleets.
- Tersa Earth Innovations Inc. (BC) will receive $250,000 to advance its TersaClean technology for microbial fuel cell-based tailings treatment.
Quotes:
“MICA is a vibrant network dedicated to fostering the adoption of innovation within the mining sector. With this announcement, we strengthen our commitment to advancing made-in-Canada innovation and establishing MICA as a globally relevant Canadian network for mining innovation. The future of mining is cleaner, greener, electric, deeper, more environmentally responsible, and safer. Supporting innovative solutions is key to driving prosperity and positive change.” – Chamirai Charles Nyabeze, MICA Network Director
“As the MICA Network completes the initiation of its technical projects, CEMI is beginning to consider the consolidation of the many technologies it has advanced over the years to create systems essential to a ‘New Mining Industry’—one that is more productive and sustainable. The demand for more metals and minerals to supply the energy transition and meet climate change challenges is daunting. The global mining industry must adopt continuous autonomous production systems and eliminate long-term environmental impact. CEMI expects to be at the forefront of these changes.” – Douglas Morrison, President and CEO, CEMI
Quick Facts:
● Launched in 2021, MICA will operate under MICA 1.0 until September 2026.
● MICA has attracted over $650 million of investible opportunities to advance mining.
● The MICA Network has six main partners across Canada, including the Bradshaw Research Institute for Minerals and Mining, InnoTech Alberta, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, MaRS, Groupe MISA, and the College of the North Atlantic.
Contact:
For more information, please contact:
● Charles Chamirai Nyabeze, Network Director, MICA – cnyabeze@cemi.ca
● General Inquiries: info@micanetwork.ca
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