CRCMining will be making the move from an Australian government CRC program, to a research centre fully supported and controlled by members next year. For over 20 years, as a cooperative research centre (CRC), CRCMining has provided strong research capability for its members and the mining industry generally, supported by both the mining industry, and the Australian government. In June 2014, the centre will shift to being wholly funded and controlled by the mining industry, including OEMs, and its research provider members.
CRC reports “the new structure will be more agile and responsive, and will enable us to be even more attuned to our members’ needs, challenges and prospects. In addition, we will be able to access new types of government and commercial funding. The ongoing success of CRCMining is largely attributed to our deep understanding of mining, due to our long history within the mining industry, our strong relationships with both mining companies and mining equipment manufacturers, and the unique role of our industry members in the direction of Centre activities.
“This won’t change. CRCMining provides a unique forum for a significant portion of the world’s largest mining companies and OEMs, and leading universities, to come together to focus on addressing the major challenges the mining industry faces. We truly understand the needs of the mining industry. Combined with our leading research provider partners, we know how to deliver high-value outcomes from university-based research. Part of our enthusiasm about the future is that as a fully member-controlled research centre, CRCMining can now expand business operations beyond the constraints of the Australian Government CRC Program. This means we can:
- Participate in a broader range of Australian federal and state government research funding opportunities that were not accessible as a CRC
- Participate in funding opportunities from international research funding sources, as an industry representative organisation
- Develop multiple, more flexible and unique partnerships with other research organisations (both domestic and international) – to ensure our research is carried out by top-rated researchers across the globe.”
CRC Mining will also be able to reduce costs and other requirements, allowing a more efficient and agile research centre. The benefits of being a CRCMining member will increase significantly once we transition to a fully member-controlled centre. Our members will be even more involved in directing how CRCMining operates, with more control over the research strategy and the terms to convert research outputs into useful products.