Enabling collaboration for innovation

The Canadian Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) is a not-for-profit organization that provides a network for and partnership between the stakeholders of the mining industry, including government and academia. It enables sharing and collaboration within the industry and aims to improve its sustainability and research relevance.

Tom Hynes, executive director of CMIC, said the organization's main focus is to strengthen mining research and innovation across Canada within the whole scope of the industry, looking at it from all aspects—from the exploration stage through to mine closure.

Hynes said that while mining is one of the cornerstones of Canada's economy, many people still think of it as pick-and-shovel work; he said the reality is much different.

“It is now one of the most mechanized and technologically sophisticated industries,” said Hynes.

Hynes came to CMIC in July of 2010, with a very strong background in mining industry and research, and on a secondment from Natural Resources Canada, a major supporter of CMIC.

“There are six major technical areas that CMIC is focusing on,” said Hynes. “The four up and running include exploration, mining, processing and energy.”

Hynes said each of these technical areas has a committee primarily made up of industry leaders; some include a mix of academic and government leaders. They are aiming to assess critical needs within that area.

“For example, the focus within the exploration group will be researching the technology to find deep ore bodies and remote or hidden ore bodies,” said Hynes.

Tailings and environmental stewardship are two other areas that CMIC has identified as important and for which it is developing committees.

“We are a work in progress,” said Hynes. “We are largely dealing with the organizational side at the moment, but our members are growing and we want to keep the momentum.”

Hynes said that CMIC was the brainchild of many.

“Success has many fathers and mothers,” he laughed, adding that there was a need for an organization like CMIC because of the lack of research collaboration within the industry.

“We are looking to be inclusive and bring everyone with an interest in doing or using mining research into the tent,” said Hynes.

Recently, CMIC endorsed the Green Mining Initiative (GMI), which was launched by the federal government in 2009 to promote Canada's mining sector as a world leader in green mining technologies. The initiative is under the collaborative leadership of Natural Resources Canada and participants include various industry, academic and government stakeholders.

CMIC has a brand new website with lots of information about its network.