Research strategy

The Research Strategy of SMI has five components:

The first is to identify the major challenges for the minerals industry. SMI does this on an on-going basis by seeking the views of senior executives. This approach has resulted in the development of three of our Centres: MISHC, CSRM and CWiMI. At any time SMI has an up to date list of challenges which is under assessment for possible SMI research development.

Our second objective is to focus a considerable part of the research effort on step change advances. Current examples include energy efficient comminution, mass mining technologies, mine site water management and mine closure.

Increasingly, effective collaboration is a key to achieving successful research outcomes. Strong internal collaboration has developed amongst the SMI Centres. Not surprisingly, many of our most effective research associations are with the Schools and Faculties within The University of Queensland. Finally, there is an impressive and growing list of research collaborations with external groups in Australia and overseas.

Effective industry engagement is fundamental to the way in which SMI works. Our model is that pioneered by the JKMRC decades ago. This involves an emphasis on industrially applicable research, substantial industry funding and an absolute commitment to the transfer of research outcomes to the industry.

Finally, the engagement of SMI is both national and international.

Research themes

Research within SMI is conducted within a range of well defined themes. In the first instance, the themes are closely identified with the relevant Centre.

More broadly, there is a growing set of research activities within a Sustainable Development theme.

SMI has more recently undertaken studies on specialist topics either for external clients or for in house project development.

The SMI research themes are:

• Mining
• Mineral Processing
• Environment
• Risk and Safety
• Social Responsibility
• Water
• Sustainable Development
• Specialist Investigations