Eight mining supply businesses have been awarded AU$7.14 million in innovation funding from mining equipment, technology and services (METS) Industry Growth Centre, METS Ignited. The eight recipients of the funding will now be able to launch collaborative industry projects that will deliver highly-advanced solutions to a variety of mining challenges and contribute to the growth and capability of the METS sector.

The funding is part of a four-year, AU$15.6 million commitment made by the Australian Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, to incentivise collaboration and address METS sector priorities.

The announcement made at CORE Innovation Hub represents the second round of the funding, and the recipients are: IMDEX, The University of Western Australia, Manufacturing Intelligence, Emapper, Energetique Mining Vehicles, Qtec, Resolution Systems and Micronised Mineral Systems.

CEO of METS Ignited, Ric Gros, says the funding will spur necessary collaboration in the sector. “Opportunities for the sector to band together and innovate are vital to the growth of the sector,” says Gros.

“Facilitating such innovation is part of the mandate for METS Ignited, and the recipients of this round will be making invaluable contributions to the mining and METS sectors through their initiatives.”

Recipients of the Collaborative Project Funds are required to secure equal or greater investment from an industry partner. As a result, the total value of the eight projects is AU$17.4 million.

The largest share of the funding – AU$2 million – was awarded to Resolution Systems, a South Australian-based business conducting a project to develop software that will increase the efficiency of mine truck fleets.

Collectively, the projects will benefit the mining sector by optimising the value chain, increasing productivity for mining and mineral processing, supporting and enhancing environmental management, and improving operational safety.