The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network was created on July 9, 2021 through an investment of $40 million from the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund. MICA is a $112.4 million pan-Canadian initiative bringing together stakeholders from a wide range of fields to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative technologies to make the mining sector more productive and sustainable.
A National Network of Innovation for Mining, MICA is designed to bridge the innovation-commercialization gaps that delay commercial success, domestically and globally. We will leverage public and private sector investments to benefit the mining sector, both domestic and global, and the Canadian economy by:
- Investing in and advancing made-in-Canada solutions and integrating cross-sector innovators nationally.
- Fostering networking opportunities and intersectoral collaboration to generate synergies and help increase the number, scale and market reach of Canadian SMEs.
You’ll be in good company!
Building a National ecosystem as a network of collaborative regional networks, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) in Sudbury, ON will provide the headquarters and overall program administration for MICA. Led by CEMI, MICA will operate across Canada through the following main partners: the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining (BC), InnoTech Alberta( AB), Saskatchewan Polytechnic (SK), MaRS (ON), Groupe MISA (PQ) and the College of the North Atlantic (NL).
Project Lead
Contributing to a Green Economy
The mining industry is critical to successfully accelerating the Green Transition to a low-carbon economy and reversing climate change.
Canada is rich in strategic and critical minerals, which are vital to the manufacturing of clean technologies, from solar panels to battery electric vehicles.
MICA will support Canada’s mining sector in delivering those minerals to the world more quickly and efficiently, expediting the global shift toward net zero, and positioning Canada as a leader in the global market for net zero technologies.
Leading the transition to a low carbon future, the Network aligns with the Government of Canada’s strengthened climate plan – A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy which will help Canada achieve its economic and environmental goals.
MICA Technical Themes
- Increase Mine Production Capacity, at Lower Cost.
- Reduce Mining Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions.
- Implement Smart, Autonomous Mining Systems.
- Reduce Environmental Risk and Long-Term Liabilities.
