(L to R) Samantha Espley, Vale; Janet Walden, NSERC; Douglas Morrison, CEMI; Minister Greg Rickford; Irene Sterian, ReMAP; Sylvain Cofsky, GARDN; Loretta Renard, ReMAP; and Sudbury Mayor Marianne Matichuk
Sudbury, ON (January 22, 2014) – The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of State (Science and Technology) was in Sudbury to announce winners of the Business-led Networks of Centres of Excellence (BL-NCE) program. The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) was selected as one of four recipients for its Ultra-Deep Mining Network (UDMN) proposal awarded $15 million, the largest grant recipient of the 2014 competition.
In conjunction with $15 million received from the BL-NCE, the UDMN has also received significant partnership commitments of $31 million in leveraged cash and in–kind contributions. The UDMN is a $46 million business-driven network, founded and funded by members of the mining and oil & gas industries, with the active participation of small to medium sized enterprises, industry agencies, research facilities and academia.
Managed through CEMI, the UDMN will lever collaborative, networked solution teams to solve critical private sector research and development challenges that impact resource extraction in ultra deep mining environments, as well as in deep, tight shale-hosted hydrocarbon reservoirs. Addressing these development and operational challenges in some of the deepest mines in the world will result in increased productivity, decreased risk to workers, lower energy utilization, as well as lower capital and operating costs, achieved through performance and efficiency improvements.
Douglas Morrison, President and CEO of CEMI and Network Director of the UDMN spoke to the reputation and track record of CEMI at the announcement, highlighting achievements in key areas of hardrock metal mining: high–stress conditions, mine productivity and mine constructions, as well as exploration and environmental sustainability. “With the UDMN, we will continue to establish collaborative networks with industry, academia and small to medium enterprises, enabling us to play a central role in the kinds of innovations necessary for the global mining industry.”
Minister Rickford, stated that, “our government is committed to supporting research that addresses private sector R&D challenges in key priority areas, for the benefit of all Canadians. The Business-Led Networks of Centres of Excellence program enhances private sector innovation by blending academic expertise with the private sector’s drive to solve real-world challenges. These networks bring expertise and stimulate private sector investment in R&D, innovation and competitiveness. For example, right here in Sudbury, researchers are finding solutions to today’s challenges in mining in order to foster growth and stimulate the development of this important sector to the economy of Northern Ontario.”
About the BL-NCE
The BL-NCE program is a federal program overseen by a tri-agency NCE Steering Committee composed of the Deputy Minister of Industry (or delegate), the Deputy Minister of Health (or delegate); and the Presidents of the three federal granting agencies: the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), with the President of the Canada Foundation for Innovation serving as observer.
The goal of the BL-NCE program is to address private sector research and development (R&D) challenges in Canadian research priority areas through the creation of business-led research networks that increase private sector investment in R&D, innovation and competitiveness.
For more information, please visit the Networks of Centres of Excellence of Canada website at www.nce-rce.gc.ca.
About CEMI
The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), located in Sudbury, Ontario, is continuing its R&D efforts to facilitate the delivery of step-change research initiatives which are deemed critically important to the mining industry. It strives to establish excellence in strategic areas of research: deep mining, mineral exploration, integrated mine engineering, environment and sustainability. Please visit our new website at www.miningexcellence.ca to review CEMI’s 2013 Annual Report and project catalogue highlighting the achievements of its team of innovators.
Reference:
Shannon Katary
Director of Marketing and Community Relations
Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI)
1 705–673 6568 x 71
skatary@miningexcellence.ca
Hans Posthuma
Acting Manager, Communications
BL-NCE
1 613–943-8752
hans.posthuma@nserc-crsng.gc.ca