SMI began in 2001 as a combination of four existing and quite independent Centres and a small co-ordinating group, now known as SMI Central. Since then, two new Centres have been added:

• Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining in 2001, and
• Centre for Water in the Minerals Industry in 2004.

JKTech Pty Ltd, widely known for its role in commercialising technology arising from the JKMRC, is increasingly becoming the commercialisation vehicle for all of SMI.

In 2006, the education activities of ACMER (previously the Australian Centre for Minerals Extension Research) became part of SMI.

The identity of the individual Centres has been deliberately maintained leading to a federation type structure within SMI. The Centres and ACMER report to the SMI Director.

In addition to its leadership role of the Centres, co-ordination of multi- Centre research projects and identification of major new research opportunities, SMI Central also provides high level project management services.

The overall structure of SMI is shown below.