MICA Network issues Pan-Canadian call for proposals

Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Image credit: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Saskatchewan Polytechnic is proud to be the MICA representative for Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Manitoba.

Canada’s Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) network is pleased to announce a Pan-Canadian call for proposals launching on Monday, February 7, 2022.

MICA is a national innovation ecosystem initiative designed to modernize mining and improve its productivity and environmental performance, strengthen the Canadian mineral supply chain, and increase the domestic and export sales of Canadian innovators. Recognizing the importance of innovation in mining, in July 2021, the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund Stream 5 program awarded $40 million to the MICA network.

MICA will connect regional networks to become a collaborative, national innovation ecosystem under the leadership of the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI). To ensure MICA’s national reach and impact, CEMI will be supported by the following main partners in the implementation of its programs and services: 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).

Working to accelerate the development and commercialization of innovative clean technologies in the mining sector, MICA is expected to position Canada as a global leader in sustainable mining as well as cleantech development. This program is not intended to support fundamental research, but TRL 5-8 level projects that will apply new, high-impact innovative clean technologies to mining.

This program seeks solution providers in mining and other sectors to address mining challenges in the following four areas of interest:

  1. Increase Mine Production Capacity, at Lower Cost;
  2. Reduce Mining Energy Consumption and GHG Emissions;
  3. Implement Smart, Autonomous Mining Systems;
  4. Reduce Environmental Risk and Long-Term Liabilities of Mining.

The program has a funding allocation of $30M for projects. This call for proposals will allocate up to $20M for MICA members, with projects receiving no more than 33 per cent of total eligible project costs. It is expected that projects of successful applicants will involve at least one SME and be completed and commercialized within four years.

"We are excited to grow our portfolio of projects under the MICA program and welcome new network members,” says Douglas Morrison, MICA’s network director. "This program provides us with an opportunity to connect with new partners across Canada that can provide innovative clean solutions to solve mining challenges."

“Canada’s mining sector is a global leader in sustainable mining and will play a major role in the low carbon economy,” adds the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry. “The call for proposals launched by MICA today will ensure that small and medium-sized businesses are involved in commercializing late stage, high-impact clean technologies, helping Canada seize economic opportunities and thrive in a net-zero future.”

It is recommended that applicants visit www.micanetwork.ca for additional information and detailed application instructions.

Open call applicants are required to submit an initial application by March 7, 2022.

Contact for call for proposals:

Diane Lepage
MICA Program Coordinator
dlepage@cemi.ca
705-673-6568 x 104

Published Feburary 2022.

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