IMII is a non-profit organization jointly funded by industry and government and is committed to developing and implementing innovative education, training, research and development partnerships for supporting a world-class minerals industry.
IMII was established in 2012 to support and sustain the Saskatchewan minerals industry for the long-term benefit of Saskatchewan. In its first five years, IMII has sponsored 15 industry driven projects, valued at nearly $15 million, and in doing so has leveraged more than $6 million in project funding from outside of its mineral industry and government members.
Vision:
Saskatchewan being home to the world’s most innovative and sustainable mining and minerals industry.
Mission:
To be an industry-led catalyst driving innovation and sustainability in minerals sector research, development, education and skills-training.
Key Research Priorities
Development of Functionalized Clay-Based Reactive Media for Removal of Cationic Salts for Brine Effluent Active
Key Topic(s)
- Salinity mitigation
- Groundwater remediation
Partners & Collaborators
University of Saskatchewan Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
Resin Grouted Rock Bolt Support Behaviour Under Shear Loading Active
Partners & Collaborators
University of Saskatchewan
Mining Materials Research Cluster Active
Key Topic(s)
- Corrosion – concrete
- Stress cracking
- Slurry erosion
- Inhibitors
Partners & Collaborators
- University of Regina
- University of Saskatchewan
- Canadian Light Source
Deep Hydrogeological Research to Support Brine Management for Saskatchewan’s Potash Industry Active
Partners & Collaborators
- University of Saskatchewan
Key Projects, Programs and Initiatives
Diversity & Inclusion Challenge Program Active
An open innovation challenge to incentivise innovations in education & training to advance diversity & inclusion in the minerals industry workforce.
Benefits
IMII offering $1 million to successful applicants
Areas of focus
Indigenous peoples and Women
Partners & Collaborators
TBA
Exploring Innovations Active
IMII’s Exploring Innovations Program projects are meant to advance the “next generation” and “future mines” innovations of the minerals industry. With this program, IMII is seeking to:
- Seed potentially transformational research & development;
- Explore the potential of emerging technology to generate new innovations through applied research projects; and
- Explore and understand emerging technology that could be adapted or adopted for use by the minerals industry.
Areas of focus
Next Generation Mines and Mills
- Develop emerging technologies or applications or validate “new to mining” technology components to manage risks and/or lower liabilities.
Future Mines
- Enabling the generation of innovative approaches to significantly improve the sustainability (environmental, social or economic) of future mines and mills.
Partners & Collaborators
University, polytechnic and/or research organizations
Total project value
Developing Innovations Active
IMII’s Developing Innovations Program projects aim to advance applied research and development (R&D) with the following objectives:
- Having the characteristics of a solution to an industry need described and ready for technology development; and
- Validating or demonstrating the potential of emerging technology to solve minerals sector-specific problems.
Areas of focus
Eligible collaborations include focused projects with specific short- to medium-term objectives, as well as discrete phases in a program of longer-range applied research where there is the potential for significant returns to industry. It is expected these projects will make contributions to next generation mines and mills by developing emerging technologies or applications, or validating “new to mining” technology components [to manage risks and/or lower liabilities].
Partners & Collaborators
Research-focussed post-secondary institutions and other research organizations
Total project value
Operationalizing Innovations Active
IMII’s Operationalizing Innovations Program is designed to support projects, with the aim of technology development and demonstration - putting them on the path to commercialization. The objective is to see a solution developed, demonstrated and available for adoption and use by the minerals industry.
Areas of focus
The focus is on optimizing existing operations with innovative product or process improvements.
Partners & Collaborators
Research organizations or Saskatchewan-based SMEs and OMEs