City Supports Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation Project

Apr 14, 2015

For immediate release                                                                         Tuesday, April 14, 2015

The City of Greater Sudbury Council and the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation (GSDC) tonight approved $1 million in funding for the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) Commercialization Attainment Program (CAP). 

These funds will be disbursed through the GSDC Community Economic Development program, with an annual allocation of $200,000 a year until 2019, for a total of $1 million.  

“Council’s decision to support the Commercialization Attainment Program underscores the vital role our Mining and Mining Supply and Services sector plays in our economic prosperity,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “The funding will ensure that the CAP program helps local businesses bring new, innovative and proprietary technologies to the market faster and expand job opportunities in Greater Sudbury.” 

CAP is a part of the $47 million Ultra-Deep Mining Network (UDMN), which aims to become the leading expert in Ultra-Deep (below 2.5 km) research and innovation, and to solve the challenges that impact resource extraction in these environments. By supporting solution providers capable of creating the industry-needed tools and technologies in the short term, UDMN will lead the way in helping ultra-deep mines operate more effectively and safely, generate more value, improve the human environment and enhance mine productivity.

In turn, the CAP program will assist small and medium sized businesses in Greater Sudbury to take maximum advantage of the UDMN project’s large research network and realize emerging commercialization opportunities. CAP will operate as bridge between larger projects and local and medium sized enterprises. The program will also assist local companies to identify opportunities, encourage local entrepreneurs to bring forward ideas and prototypes, and support the costs of testing and evaluation as local companies work to bring ideas to the market. 

“I would like to extend my appreciation to City Council for their endorsement of the GSDC Board’s work,” said Dr. Darren Stinson, Chair of the GSDC Board. “Initiatives such as these would not be possible without the support of Council, and we are gratified that they have approved this investment in the economic strength of our community.”

The GSDC serves as a catalyst in supporting projects that address priorities resulting in long-term economic benefits to Greater Sudbury, including potential job and wealth creation, and export development, while promoting investment and continued economic diversification. The Community Economic Development (CED) Committee receives project funding applications and provides due diligence on behalf of the Board and Council. Applicants may include private/public partnerships and organizations located in the City of Greater Sudbury and must clearly demonstrate how their projects will deliver economic benefits to the Greater Sudbury. The CED Committee of the GSDC recommends investment of financial and/or non-financial resources in projects that promote new alliances, partnerships and sectoral development for the benefit of the community. 

Under the GSDC Funding Guidelines, economic development investments with a total value of $250,000 or more require the approval of Council upon approval of the GSDC Board.  

About CEMI
The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation is a not for profit organization that directs and coordinates step-change innovation in the areas of exploration, deep mining, integrated mine engineering, environment and sustainability for the metal mining industry. Their team of program and research directors lead industry-focused applied and academic research and development projects, from geology and engineering, to natural sciences. They are at the forefront of cross-sector collaboration and offer a single point of entry for knowledge resources and human capital, which enhances the scope, extent and impact of innovation for the metal mining industry globally.

For more information on economic development initiatives in the City of Greater Sudbury, visit www.investsudbury.ca.

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