amira's value propositioncdn0.blocksassets.com/assets/tfia/m-tex/up866drjq5qne0k/amira-… ·...

Leading Industry Innovation

AMIRA International

Matthew DalzielProgram Manager – Mining

M-Tex Roundtable discussionFebruary 2014

© – Not for duplication or circulation without permission 1


AMIRA International www.amirainternational.com

Mission: strengthen our Members’ businesses throughplaying an integral role in their development and uptake

of leading edge science and technology

• An association founded by the mining industry in 1959 as theAustralian Minerals Industry Research Association

• In 2001, renamed AMIRA International in response to globalisingeffects on its members as well as AMIRA’s own activities

• Not-for-profit; governed by global industry board

• Offices now located in Melbourne, Perth, Santiago, Johannesburgand Denver



AMIRA International – Structure

Members of

AMIRA International

Members of

AMIRA International

BoardBoard

Business Unit Operations• Project Development• Project Oversight

Business Unit Operations• Project Development• Project Oversight

Strategic Activities• Business Development• Data Metallogenica

Strategic Activities• Business Development• Data Metallogenica

Managing DirectorManaging Director

Administration• Finance• IT• Legal• Communications

Administration• Finance• IT• Legal• Communications



AMIRA is a global network organisation

AMIRA Offices

Countries with Research Providers

Countries with Sponsors/Members


AMIRA International – Current status

Key service – to develop, broker and facilitate collaborativelyfunded collaborative R&D projects on behalf of Members

Members: 80 international members (explorers, producers,suppliers)

Current portfolio: 25 current projects covering the wholemining value chain including geoscience, mining engineering,processing, environment, sustainability

Portfolio Value: ~ $55M (industry cash) as of 30 Jun 2013

New Business: ~$12-20M in new projects started each year

Research collaborators: Over 200 researchers from some62 Research Organisations around the world

AMIRA has developed and executed over 1,000 projects in50+ years



ExplorationGeoScienceExplorationGeoScience MiningMining Mineral Processing

and ExtractionMineral Processing

and Extraction

Multi-DisciplinaryMulti-Disciplinary

SustainabilitySustainability

~$13m ~$2.5m ~$28m ~$0.5m

$11m

• Discoverytechnologies

• Ore genesis• Vectors to ore• Regional studies• Data compilations• Data Metallogenica

• Comminution energy use• Flotation recovery• Extraction selectivity• Reagent and Water

Recovery

• Environment• OH&S• Energy• Water Quality and

Use

• Productivity• Mine Safety• Reduced

OperatingCosts

• Increased Revenue from improved product quality and improved product recovery• Integration of Mining and subsequent processing• Optimisation of resource characterisation for optimal production and recovery

Projects are developed across the value-chain with an increasingemphasis on multi-disciplinary & multi-institutional



AMIRA develops high-impact, collaborative R&Dprojects that meet Sponsor needs

AMIRA International• Synthesise Member Needs

• Develop Projects

• Manage Programs

• Global Technology Programs

• Technology Transfer

AMIRA International• Synthesise Member Needs

• Develop Projects

• Manage Programs

• Global Technology Programs

• Technology TransferResearch IdeasResearch Ideas

Member NeedsMember Needs

AMIRA “signature” projectsshape Industry Practice

• Large Scale R&D Projects• 2-4 year Duration and• $0.5m-$1m Annual Budgets

• Large Scale R&D Projects• 2-4 year Duration and• $0.5m-$1m Annual Budgets

ProjectsProjects

Research Providers

• Many more….

Research Providers

• Many more….

MembersMembers

Many more...

7


Project DevelopmentProject Development

Project OversightProject Oversight

ResearchContractor

ResearchContractor

IndustryCustomer

IndustryCustomer

AMIRAAMIRA

brokerage

facilitation

relationships

technicalexpertise

relationships

marketknowledge

AMIRA International – Business process



AMIRA – Benefits for members

• Participate in collaborative research projects, share the resultsand adopt research outputs

• Leverage company R&D investments (4:1 to 60:1)

• Critical mass funding - helps engage integrated teams of theworld’s leading researchers

• Maintenance and development of regional R&D infrastructureand post-graduate training

• Sponsor networking and personnel development



AMIRA – Benefits for research partners

• Develop and market targeted project proposals through AMIRA’sglobal network

• Global exposure and access to:• Resource companies with R&D funds, priorities & culture• R&D collaborations with other researchers and organisations

• Access to long-term, significant funding

• Leverage industry funding through grant funding e.g. accessgovernment schemes such as ARC, CRC, CORFU, THRIP,NSERC

• Build networks with companies for future 1:1 projects

• Attract/retain world-class collaborating researchers & students

• Assist students career pathways through exposure to multiplecompanies



Projectconception

Projectconception

Concepttesting

Concepttesting

Projectdevelopment

Projectdevelopment

ProjectoversightProject

oversight

• Source/receiveresearch opportunity

• Agreed research proposalcirculated: objectives,programs, milestones,deliverables, researchbudget and sponsor fees(often 3 year projects)

• Sponsor commitmentreceived

• Contracts written;sponsorship paymentsbegin

• Research commences...

• Co-ordinates overallproject

• Acts as sponsors agent• Organises technology

transferseminars/workshops

• Controls confidentialityprovisions before publicrelease

• Refine concept• Define potential

sponsors• Circulate for

comment• Agreed research

concept relevant

© – Not for duplication or circulation without permission

AMIRA’s role: throughout project life

10


Sponsoring an AMIRA project does notguarantee that a Sponsor will capture

value for their Organisation

• Develop the business case for implementing outcomes from theresearch, and influence the project’s directions accordingly

• Become actively engaged in the project process

• Maintain continuity with the project team (+ back-ups, successionplanning)

• Put in place the budgets, resources and capability required toimplement and sustain the project outcomes

• Use specialist service providers and 1:1 consulting with the R&DTeam to assist Technology Transfer

To maximise their Return on Investment Sponsors MUST:



AMIRA International – Sources of funding

• Corporate activities generally broadly funded fromMembership

• Operational activities generally funded from development &oversight “commission” fee paid by sponsors forsuccessfully developing a new collaborative project

• No direct government funding or control, but supportingfunds can be additionally leveraged through governmentschemes (e.g. Australian Research Council, NSERC,CORFO etc)


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$


AMIRA International – Sponsorship Costs

• Each member may join any project at their discretion

• Each project will have a total sponsorship cost, including AMIRA fee– shared as a collaborative project by sponsors

• Some projects have several levels of sponsorship, e.g. whereprojects involve optional site work, some sponsors pay more to havethis work conducted on their site ( → immediate tech transfer)

• Note that this is not about the size of the company (market cap)but about what a company wants to get out of a project cfAMIRA membership which is based on market cap. Typicallysuppliers are minor sponsors cf exploration companies.


$ / # Sponsors


Scope of AMIRA’s activities

• Geoscience– Ground breaking research that has led

to routine exploration applications inregolith geochemistry, imageprocessing, mineral mapping,advanced EM modelling, ore depositsmodels and instrumentation

• Mining– Research in geomechanics, blasting,

equipment optimisation, mine design,scheduling and automation

Mineral mapping: B Hobbs AMIRAForum 2003

LHD negotiating Y junction at artificial mine tunnel

Vastly improved conductivity-depth imaging with layer boundarypicking: Jim Macnae EMC 2005


Scope of AMIRA’s activities

• Mineral ProcessingPushed the envelope in the fundamentalunderstanding of flotation, comminution andthickener technology which have significantlyimproved operational efficiencies, e.g. the total NPVdelivered from improved thickener technologies fromP266 has been estimated to be AU$295M

A pilot scale version of JKJetLiftwhich has improved mill throughput inAlcoa mills by 15% and has reducedcapital costs

• SustainabilityMany projects address issues of sustainability as part of the research withthe environment and OH&S taking a major role.Acid Mine Drainage has been a priority area for research in recent years.


Potential areas for improved performanceof fabric related applications in the

minerals industry


Uses of fabric in the Exploration

• Shade, clothing• Sample bags• Access• Rehabilitation


Uses of fabric in the Mining

• Clothing, as for Exploration• Soil stabilisation• Drain seepage material for stopes• Geotechnical• Backfill containment• Ventilation bags


Uses of fabric in the Processing

• Dust extraction• Moisture reduction• Filtration• Conveyor fabrics


• Access roads (Geotextiles)• Smart clothing, cold / hot• Water purification

• Rehabilitation, self seeding / fertilising /stabilisation

Uses of fabric in Sustainability / Environment

amira's value propositioncdn0.blocksassets.com/assets/tfia/m-tex/up866drjq5qne0k/amira-… ·...

Documents