Prof. Roberto Parra FigueroaMetallurgical DepartmentUniversity of Concepción

Global and local challenges for research,

development and innovation in mining

and metallurgy: a Chilean perspective.

The local scenario

Human resources and R&D capabilities

Challenges and objectives

Discussion

Agenda

• In Chile, the mining and processing of copper alone generates

approximately 20% of GDP and some 60% of exports

• Production of this metal has helped the Chilean economy expansion in

the last decade however much of recent boom has been driven mainly by

unit metal price, and not productivity.

This has led to rising underlyingcosts which, as metal prices havesubsequently weakened, arebecoming unsustainable.

The local scenario

pro

du

ctivity

geology

energy

The local scenario

• Lower head grades – world average Cu is now 1%, by 2025 will be 0.6%

• Harder ore and transition to underground – more energy intensive

• More difficult to treat ores with higher penalty elements e.g. arsenic. Lack of

chemical and applied mineralogy fundamentals.

• Competition for water and rising societal expectations

• Effective tailings treatments – larger volumes being processed and access to

land issues

• Chile currently imports its knowledge and loses some of its best to the global

industry

The Chilean resource industry needs a transformation in

productivity, energy, water and environmental management.

Chile needs to insource this knowledge

The local scenario

• 1. Applied Mineralogy and Geometallurgy (AMG).

• 2. Fundaments and Process Development (FDP).

• 3. Sensing and Optimization (SO).

• 4. Sustainability and Mineral Economics (SME) / New resources: Li and

rare earth

The Chilean resource industry needs a transformation in

productivity, energy, water and environmental management.

Chile needs to insource this knowledge

Agenda

The local scenario

Human resources and R&D capabilities

Challenges and objectives

Discussion

Human resources and R&D capabilities

- Research is developed in a wide sort of topics by academia, most of them in Eng. Dept.:

- Universidad Católica de Chile

- Universidad Católica de Valparaiso

- Universidad Católica del Norte

- Universidad de Antofagasta

- Universidad de Concepción

- Universidad de Chile

- Universidad de Santiago de Chile

- Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María.

Human resources and R&D capabilities

- Centres of R&D:

- Advanced Mining Technology Centre – Universidad de Chile

- Centro de Investigación Científico Tecnológico para la Minería CICITEM – Universidad de Antofagasta, Universidad Católica del Norte.

- SCIRO Chile – SCIRO Australia and Universidad de Chile

- SMI-ICE-Chile – SMI University of Queensland and Universidad de Concepción

Human resources and R&D capabilities

- Centres with a proposal of research and development in an early stage- Centro de Automatización y Supervisión para la Industria Minera –

Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María- Centre of Innovation in Mining – Universidad Adolfo Ibañez

- Others centres with activities on mining- Insituto de sistemas complejos en Ingeniería. Natural resources –

Universidad de Chile.- Center for Mathematical Modelling – Universidad de Chile.

- IM2: Instituto de Innovación en Minería y Metalurgia- The only centre in Chile funded by a mining company: CODELCO

Agenda

The local scenario and its objectives

Human resources and R&D capabilities

Challenges and objectives

Discussion

Challenges and objectives

During the last decades, several efforts have been conducted by public policies in Chile in

order to increase its scientific productivity with, in general, good results. However all this

effort hasn’t been yet traduced in a relevant impact on the competiveness of the Chilean

economy. Particularly, it was identified a limited generation of science-based innovation.

“The mining sector and their related activities must develop an industry of goods

and services based on science and technology, to address productivity

challenges in the sector through the creation of a strong innovation ecosystem in

associative way, including the industry, suppliers, the national science and

technology system, the academia and the and the state”

Scientific

Research

Relevant

knowledge

and skills

Step 1: It works, it is needed an strength for accelerate the development

of potential developments on innovations with "scientific basis".

Challenges and objectives

Scientific

Research

Relevant

knowledge

and skills

• Precompetitivedevelopments

• Proposals forinnovation

Step 2: It Works, requires additional human

resources to increase development.

Challenges and objectives

Scientific

Research

Relevant

knowledge

and skills

Technology

validation

Real impact

in Industry

• Precompetitivedevelopments

• Proposals forinnovation

Challenges and objectives

Scientific

Research

Relevant

knowledge

and skills

Technology

validation

Real impact

in Industry

Steps 3 and 4: Key development

needed.

• Precompetitivedevelopments

• Proposals forinnovation

Challenges and objectives

Agenda

The local scenario and its objectives

Human resources and R&D capabilities

Challenges

Discussion

Discussion

- Actors: lack of linkages with companies and suppliers.

- Identification of areas of collaboration subjects and priorities.

- Multidisciplinary and complementary approach to tackle complex problems.

- Facilitation of knowledge management

- Looking for an impact within the Chilean ecosystem

- Sustainability as a driven force

…..Thank you for your attention…..