Centre for Excellence In Mining Innovation (CEMI)

What Centre for Excellence In Mining Innovation (CEMI) does

CEMI (Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation) is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2007 and headquartered in Sudbury, Ontario, with a regional office in Toronto. Its mandate is to accelerate the commercialization of innovations across the mining value chain, spanning mineral exploration, underground and surface mining, end-to-end productivity, and environmental sustainability. CEMI does not develop mining technologies itself; instead it operates as an intermediary accelerator that curates, matches, and scales third-party innovations through its Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, a pan-Canadian platform launched in July 2021 with support from the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund.

The core product surface is the MICA Network platform, which supports an ecosystem of mining technology SMEs, mining operators, EPCMs, OEMs, associations, and government bodies. The platform provides structured pathways from technology readiness levels 4 through 9, including curated introductions, mine-site test environments, IP and commercialization guidance, and ongoing deployment support. Approximately 40 technologies with commercial traction are currently supported. A proposed successor program, MICA-2, has been announced as a $148 million five-year initiative (2026-2031) targeting deployment-ready technologies at TRL 7-9 to drive productivity, exports, and global competitiveness.

CEMI's business model is a hybrid of government grant funding and tiered membership subscriptions. Government of Canada Strategic Innovation Fund support underpins core operations (including a $5M CAD grant in March 2025 and the original $112.4M MICA launch), while MICA Network membership generates recurring subscription revenue via freemium entry-level ecosystem profiles and paid SME and Mine Operator tiers. The organization employs 1-10 people, is led by President & CEO Douglas Morrison, and is governed by an independent board. Strategic partnerships with Vale, Glencore, Groupe MISA, GMG, Austmine, IPT Brazil, CMI, ICEMD, DIGITAL, CTRI, and IAC anchor the ecosystem and extend CEMI's reach across Canada and internationally.

Name

Centre for Excellence In Mining Innovation (CEMI)

Legal name

Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation Inc.

Website

https://cemi.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CEMI is a Canadian non-profit mining innovation accelerator that operates the MICA Network, curating and commercializing mining technologies from SMEs for adoption by mining operators across Canada. It is funded primarily through federal Strategic Innovation Fund grants and tiered membership subscriptions, and is preparing a $148M MICA-2 follow-on program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sudbury

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: CEMI receives substantial government funding, including $5 million from the Canadian government and manages the MICA Network as a $112.4 million pan-Canadian initiative supported by the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund.
2. MICA Network Membership: MICA offers free entry-level ecosystem profiles with optional paid membership tiers (SME Core and Growth) providing enhanced services such as curated introductions, commercialization support, and priority access to opportunities. Membership is free for individuals and professionals, with different pricing for mine operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CEMI is a non-profit innovation accelerator that manages the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, a pan-Canadian initiative connecting mining technology innovators and SMEs with mining operators, industry partners, and government programs. It provides innovation scouting, challenge identification, solution matching, test environments, IP support, and commercialization services to bridge the gap between research and market adoption across the mining value chain.

Product overview

CEMI operates as a mining innovation accelerator organization offering the MICA Network, a pan-Canadian platform that connects mining innovators with industry partners, funding opportunities, and test environments to commercialize mining technologies. The portfolio includes the established MICA Network and its successor MICA-2, a $148M national initiative targeting deployment-stage technologies. These programs work together to bridge the innovation gap from research to market adoption across Canada's mining ecosystem.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MICA Network (Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator) Pan-Canadian innovation ecosystem that accelerates the commercialization of mining technologies by connecting innovators with industry partners, providing funding opportunities, test environments at mine sites, and structured commercialization support for technologies across the mining value chain including underground and surface mining, mineral exploration, productivity, and environmental sustainability.
• MICA Calls for Proposals Periodic funding proposal calls administered through the MICA Network that provide financial and commercialization support to SMEs developing mining innovations ready for pilot or deployment.

Quantifiable outcome

• 82% of Evidence Network Survey respondents believe CEMI contributed to their ability to innovate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 February 2026Strategic partnership to help Canadian mining companies protect and commercialize breakthrough technologies. The collaboration connects CEMI's Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator Network with IAC's intellectual property experts to assist SMEs in building stronger IP ownership positions. Supported by the Government of Canada's Strategic Innovation Fund.
• Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas (IPT) BrazilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic MoU to strengthen Canada-Brazil collaboration in mining innovation and technology commercialization. Establishes a long-term framework for joint R&D, knowledge exchange, researcher mobility, and market scaling focused on critical minerals and sustainable mining. Helps Canadian and Brazilian SMEs access new global markets.
• Global Mining Guidelines Group (GMG)coreTechnology or IntegrationAssociate partnership agreement to align Canada's national mining innovation ecosystem with global technology leaders driving digital transformation in mining. Establishes framework for coordinated innovation, knowledge sharing, ecosystem engagement, joint events, data exchange, and advancing sustainable mining practices.
• Critical Minerals Institute (CMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to collaborate on advancing Canada's leadership in mining innovation and the global critical minerals economy. Involves cooperation in innovation support, project development, conferences, and ecosystem engagement to strengthen supply chains and promote sustainability.
• AustminemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic MoU to accelerate innovation, foster collaboration, and promote sustainability in the global mining industry through strengthened global mining innovation partnerships.
• Industrial Waste Technology Center (CTRI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic collaboration agreement with CTRI to bridge the gap between applied research and market-ready sustainable solutions for global mining and industrial sectors. Facilitated by ethos strategic mediation.
• Indigenous Centre for Excellence in Mineral Development (ICEMD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to advance Indigenous leadership in mining innovation. CEMI and ICEMD collaborate to support Indigenous participation and leadership in the mining innovation ecosystem.
• DIGITALmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOU to advance innovation and global opportunities in Canadian mining. Partnership focuses on digital transformation and innovation support.
• ValecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMining company partner collaborating with CEMI on industry-leading innovations. Vale participates in generating new ideas that make mineral exploration and development more sustainable for communities.
• Groupe MISAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the 6 Main Partners in the MICA Network, serving as a key strategic partner in the national innovation ecosystem.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Creative Destruction Lab: Toronto-based seed-stage accelerator for science- and technology-based ventures. Comparable as a Canadian commercialization platform with venture creation focus and partner-network model.
• MaRS Discovery District: Toronto-based innovation hub supporting science and technology commercialization across multiple sectors. Adjacent peer offering accelerator/incubator services with similar network-driven GTM and government support.
• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency with a significant mining innovation portfolio and commercialization programs. Comparable as a publicly funded applied research organization commercializing mining innovation.
• CanmetMINING (NRCan): Natural Resources Canada's mining research laboratory delivering innovation in mining safety, productivity, and sustainability. Comparable as a federally-backed mining research and technology transfer body in Canada.
• Sustainable Minerals Institute (University of Queensland): University-based mining research and commercialization institute addressing sustainability, productivity, and social licence. Comparable as an established mining innovation and applied research body supporting global mining operators.

Others

• ICMM (International Council on Mining and Metals): International industry association advancing sustainable mining practices and innovation across major mining operators. Adjacent peer as an industry coordination body aligning miners, suppliers, and policy on mining innovation themes.

Direct peers

• NORCAT: Sudbury-based mining technology innovation center operating an accelerator, training programs, and underground test mine for mining technology startups. Highly comparable as a direct Canadian mining-tech commercialization peer headquartered in the same mining hub.
• Austmine: Australia's peak mining innovation and technology network connecting miners, METS, and researchers. Direct peer as a mining innovation ecosystem; notably already an MoU partner of CEMI, reinforcing structural similarity.
• Mining3: International mining industry research consortium driving transformational step-change technologies across the mining value chain. Direct peer as a mining technology commercialization alliance with industry operator backing.

Emerging players

• BRIMM: Brisbane-based mining innovation hub fostering corporate-startup collaboration in the resources sector. Comparable as a mining innovation intermediary building curated corporate-innovator networks.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cemi_mining

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centre for Excellence In Mining Innovation (CEMI)