METS Innovation Program for Western Australian METS Companies ( Australia)

MRIWA recognises the role the Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) sector plays in the mining innovation lifecycle by translating new knowledge created through research into solutions which can benefit Western Australia.

Focus Areas

• Focus Areas are campaigns targeting specific areas which seek to stimulate and amplify activities of high value to the State. Focus Areas may fall in areas specific to parts of the mining value chain or have impact across the entire value chain, with the benefit to be realised in Western Australia. By identifying specific Focus Areas MRIWA seeks to activate innovation and research networks and attract investment in high value activities in the following areas:
  • Net Zero Emission Mining
  • Critical Minerals
  • Green Steel
  • Exploration Amplification
  • Alternative Use of Tailings and Waste
  • Precision and Low Impact Mining.

Funding Information 

• The METS Innovation Program will provide matched grant funding up to a maximum of $250,000 per Approved Project.

Eligible Activities 

• Research activity: The activity outlined in the Application must be minerals research Minerals research, is defined in the MRIWA Act as the:
  • investigation undertaken in order to acquire new knowledge relating to; or
  • systematic work drawing on existing knowledge that is directed to the development of, any process, technique, method, design, or apparatus to locate, extract, transport, or market minerals

Eligibility Criteria

• All Applications must align to at least one Program and Theme from the current Research Priority Plan and must clearly demonstrate how the proposed research activity will deliver the intended outcome for the relevant Theme as detailed in the Research Priority Plan.
• Where the proposed research activity will contribute to more than one Program and/or Theme, additional Program and Themes may be nominated, provided this is substantiated in the Application itself.
• Where MRIWA has issued a call for Applications in a specific focus area or areas, only Applications addressing one or more of those focus areas will be considered for funding in the nominated round.
• MRIWA Focus Areas: All Applications must align to at least one Focus Area.
• Each Application must include, and maintain for the duration of the Project, a Lead Organisation and may include a Sponsor, or Sponsors.
• The Application may also include additional Participating Organisations, including:
  • Research Organisations; and
  • Other Organisations.
• These organisations are not required to provide a cash contribution, where they contribute expertise or in-kind contributions to the Project, including provision or analysis of samples, access to data, equipment, exploration and/or mine sites.
• To be an eligible organisation, a Participating Organisation must comply with the following mandatory requirements and confirm:
  • the cash contributions to be made if it is a Sponsor;
  • the organisation is financially sustainable and will contribute (subject to the Application being successful) the staff, funds and other resource indicated in the Application;
  • no current directors of the organisation have been convicted of fraud or declared bankrupt;
  • they are an organisation which complies with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth); and
  • a commitment to enter into agreement with MRIWA and other Participating Organisations, including the requirement to enter into arrangements regarding Intellectual Property which do not unreasonably prevent or delay the publication of academic outputs, including the final report.
• All Participating Organisations must disclose any current, pending or threatened arbitration proceedings (whether as claimant or defendant) or any prosecution or enquiry pending by a government or official body involving the organisation, where such proceedings have the potential to affect either:
  • the organisation’s capacity to undertake the proposed Project, or
  • the organisation’s reputation.
• Business Activity: Your business must be able to demonstrate it provides mining equipment, technology, or services to the mining sector.
• Business Location: Your main business location must be in Western Australia.
• Business Structure
  • Your business will:
    • have an Australian business number (ABN).
    • be registered for goods and services tax (GST).
    • be a company incorporated in Australia or an
    • incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust.
• Business Size: Your business will have an annual turnover of less than $50m per annum.

For more information, visit MRIWA.