METS Ignited, an industry-led, Australia government-funded, growth centre for the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector, is making A$4 million ($2.8 million) available to companies focused on the application of analytics, automation and robotics in mining operations.

The investment is part of the fourth round of METS Ignited Collaborative Project Funds for METS solutions able to help demonstrate the productivity, competitiveness and innovative capacity of the sector in Australia.

METS Ignited Acting CEO, Ian Dover, said: “Australian METS companies have a long history of supplying reliable and innovative solutions to the mining sector. This round of funding is focused on accelerating the adoption of analytics, automation and robotics into Australian METS and mining with the objective of making a significant contribution to the economy and creating more jobs in our domestic mining supply chains.

“The time is now, for Australia to get ahead of the curve and make the most of our home-grown advantage.”

Round four of the Project Funds invites METS companies to collaborate with a minimum of two other METS companies and an end user, to deliver projects with real commercialisation potential, METS Ignited said.