Deadline: September 02, 2025
The Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) offers the METS Innovation Program, designed to support mining equipment, technology, and services companies in developing products and services that address key issues within the mining sector.
The focus of this program is directed toward specific areas identified as critical for driving innovation and delivering value to Western Australia. These focus areas include Net Zero Emission Mining, Critical Minerals, Green Steel, Exploration Amplification, Alternative Use of Tailings and Waste, and Precision and Low Impact Mining.
MRIWA aims to fund projects that align with its Research Priority Plan, targeting medium to long-term resources-related knowledge and technology needs. Projects supported by the METS Innovation Program must demonstrate minerals research activities that contribute new knowledge or systematic work aimed at the development of processes, techniques, methods, designs, or apparatus related to mining.
The program provides matched grant funding up to $250,000 per approved project, with the intent to foster innovation in the Western Australian mining equipment, technology, and services sector. Eligible companies must primarily operate within Western Australia, have an Australian Business Number, be registered for GST, and typically have an annual turnover of less than $50 million.
Applications undergo a thorough assessment process, including an eligibility review and evaluation by a Grant Assessment Panel against merit criteria focusing on advancing Western Australia economically, socially, and environmentally. Projects are expected to demonstrate technical strength, feasibility, and potential for tangible benefits, with clear plans for knowledge transfer and commercial application of research outputs.
Funding agreements specify intellectual property arrangements, milestones, reporting requirements, and payment schedules, ensuring accountability and alignment with MRIWA’s objectives. MRIWA places importance on collaboration between industry, academia, and government to maximize the impact of funded research and supports project facilitation to foster partnerships and innovation networks.
The program encourages industry engagement and co-investment, emphasizing the importance of financial and technical contributions from participating organizations. Projects must also ensure freedom to operate by respecting intellectual property rights, and they need to comply with MRIWA policies and guidelines throughout their execution.
Successful projects contribute to enhancing productivity, employment, investment, economic diversification, and environmental sustainability in Western Australia. The METS Innovation Program supports the mining sector’s evolution by promoting research that leads to practical, adoptable solutions aligned with industry challenges and state priorities.
For more information, visit MRIWA.
