What Corem does

Corem is a Quebec City-based non-profit centre of expertise and the largest mineral processing R&D organization in Canada, serving the mining industry through a membership-based R&D model. Founded in its current form in 1999 with roots dating to 1957, Corem operates 25 pilot plants and laboratories covering the full mineral processing flowsheet: comminution (fragmentation), flotation, agglomeration and thermal processes (notably iron ore pelletizing and direct reduction), physical separation, extractive metallurgy/hydrometallurgy, mineralogy, and Mineralurgy Analytics and Technology (MAT) — its digital and data-science capability. The organization conducts approximately 250 projects annually for its 11 industrial members and external clients, producing world-class metallurgical testing, pilot-scale validation, and geometallurgical modeling that reduces technical and scale-up risk for mining operators.

Corem's business model combines three revenue streams: recurring industrial membership dues from 11 mining company members (Agnico Eagle, ArcelorMittal, Glencore, IAMGOLD, Kinross, Quebec Iron Ore, Rio Tinto IOC, Bahrain Steel, Magris PMI, Groupe M7, FLS), fee-for-service contract research for member and non-member clients, and government research funding (e.g., a CAD $2 million CRITM grant in 2025 for critical and strategic minerals). The organization is governed by a board of directors populated almost entirely by member-company representatives, with the chair held by Quebec Iron Ore's CEO. Corem is ISO 17025, 9001, and 14001 certified, holds Glencore Technology certification for IsaMill Signature Plot testing, and participates in ISO/TC/102 standards development. Its go-to-market is relationship-driven, supported by scientific publications, conference participation, industry awards (notably the 2025 TMS Light Metals Subject Award with Alcoa and Hatch), and Quebec government policy alignment on critical minerals and the energy transition.

Name

Corem

Legal name

Corem

Website

https://corem.qc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Corem is a Quebec City-based non-profit R&D centre and the largest mineral processing research organization in Canada, serving 11 industrial mining-company members and external clients with 25 pilot plants covering the full ore-processing flowsheet.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mineral Processing Research & Development Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mineral Processing Plant Design & EPCM (Flowsheet Development, Piloting & Scale-up) (IMAKALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Comminution (Crushing, Grinding & Milling) (IMAKALAA)

Keywords

• Mineral processing research
• Ore beneficiation services
• Metallurgical testing
• Pilot plant services
• Mining R&D center

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Membership Dues: Corem operates as a non-profit organization supported by 11 industrial member companies (mining companies) who pay membership dues. Members gain access to precompetitive research programs, collaborative R&D, and priority access to Corem's facilities and expertise.
2. Contract Research Services: Fee-for-service R&D and testing services provided to member and non-member mining companies, equipment suppliers, and engineering firms. Includes specialized analyses, laboratory testing, and pilot-scale validation. Pricing is negotiated on a project-by-project basis.
3. Government Research Funding: Corem receives government funding (e.g., $2 million from Quebec government via CRITM) for specific research projects on critical and strategic minerals. This funding supports collaborative research with industry partners (Quebec Iron Ore, ArcelorMittal) and academic institutions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Corem is a non-profit centre of expertise and innovation providing research and development services to the mining industry, with a focus on optimizing and developing ore and mineral processing technologies. The organization operates world-class pilot plants and laboratories covering the full mineral processing flowsheet — from comminution, flotation, agglomeration and thermal processes, physical separation, extractive metallurgy/hydrometallurgy, and mineralogy, to Mineralurgy Analytics and Technology (MAT) — and delivers services through a Precompetitive Research Program, Collaborative Research and Innovation partnerships, and Contractual Services.

Product overview

Corem offers a unified portfolio of research and development services for the mining industry, centered on ore processing expertise. The portfolio comprises three main service lines: the Precompetitive Research Program for member companies, Collaborative Research and Innovation for custom partnerships, and Contractual Services for specific client needs. These are supported by six core technical expertise areas—Fragmentation, Flotation, Agglomeration and Thermal Processes, Physical Separation, Extractive Metallurgy/Hydrometallurgy, and Mineralogy—all operating within world-class pilot plant facilities. The organization also provides Mineralurgy Analytics and Technology (MAT) services that integrate advanced digital technologies with traditional mineral processing expertise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Precompetitive Research Program A collaborative R&D program for Corem's mining company members that pools research efforts across the industry to reduce costs and risks associated with disruptive mineral processing innovations while benefiting the entire sector.
• Collaborative Research and Innovation Partnership-based research services for mining companies, equipment suppliers, and engineering firms to develop tailor-made solutions for complex mineral processing challenges using Corem's scientific knowledge and technical expertise.
• Contractual Services Custom research and development services including specialized analyses, laboratory testing, and pilot-scale testing delivered with scientific rigor and technical expertise to non-member and member clients.
• Comminution (Fragmentation) Services Grinding circuit design and optimization services covering HPGR, IsaMill, Bond indices (Ball Mill Work Index, Rod Mill Work Index, Abrasion Work Index), SAGDesign, SMC Test, Levin and Karra grindability indices, and JKSimMet simulation. Certified for IsaMill Signature Plot testing by Glencore Technology.
• Flotation Services Flotation circuit services using mechanical cells, flotation columns, and automated cells ranging from lab to pilot scale (up to 170L), augmented by proprietary hydrodynamic tools for auditing and optimizing flotation circuits in operating plants.
• Agglomeration and Thermal Processes Services Iron ore pellet composition optimization and firing cycle design services using physical firing simulators (pot-grate and grate-kiln cooler) for both moving-grate and rotary-kiln processes. Includes characterization of lump ores, sinter, and pellets, blast furnace tests, and direct reduction tests (DR90, R180, R300, Linder, HYL protocols).
• Physical Separation Services Gravimetric separation (Reflux Classifier, Knelson, Falcon, Mozley MGS, Kelsey jig, spirals, shaking tables) and magnetic separation (dry and wet, lab and pilot scale) services, plus an industrial ore sorter (COMEX) with 4 sensors.
• Extractive Metallurgy / Hydrometallurgy Services High-temperature and high-pressure processing of mineral acids and bases on laboratory and semi-industrial scale. Expertise includes gold cyanidation, natural graphite to battery-grade graphite transformation, spodumene to lithium precursors, battery-grade Ni from concentrates or rejects, rare earth processing, apatite concentration, and phosphoric acid production.
• Mineralogy Services
• Mineralurgy Analytics and Technology (MAT) Innovation at the intersection of mineral processing and advanced digital technologies. Develops machine vision, sensor design, data science, and automation solutions for mining operations, bridging cutting-edge technology with industry application needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~98% Fe recovery with 68% Fe Direct Reduction iron ore grade and only 2% SiO2 achieved in metallurgical tests for Oceanic Iron Ore Corp.'s Hopes Advance Project (bench-scale rougher-cleaner tests on gravity concentrate)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered key, core and minor.

• AlcoakeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaborative R&D partner with Corem and Hatch on aluminum fluoride regeneration research. Co-recipient of the TMS Light Metals Subject Award – Aluminum Reduction 2025. Project demonstrated sustainable hydrometallurgical approaches for more efficient and environmentally friendly aluminum production.
• HatchkeyStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Engineering firm partner with Corem and Alcoa on the aluminum fluoride regeneration research project. Co-recipient of the TMS Light Metals Subject Award 2025. Hatch provides engineering and process scale-up expertise.
• Minerai de fer Québec (Quebec Iron Ore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with ArcelorMittal in the $2M CRITM-funded critical minerals research project. Quebec Iron Ore's CEO Angela Kourouklis serves as Chairwoman of Corem's Board of Directors, indicating deep strategic alignment. Active member of Corem.
• ArcelorMittal Exploitation minière CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-partner with Quebec Iron Ore in the $2M CRITM-funded critical minerals research project. Marianne Huot of ArcelorMittal sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Active member of Corem. Collaborative research on high-purity iron production and geometallurgical tools.
• Université LavalkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaborator in the $2M CRITM-funded critical minerals research project, providing research expertise and student involvement in geometallurgical tool development and iron deposit optimization studies.
• CRIM (Centre de recherche en informatique de Montréal)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partner in the CRITM-funded critical minerals project, contributing computational and data science expertise to support geometallurgical tool development.
• MinéraliskeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in the CRITM-funded critical minerals research project, contributing specialized expertise in mineral processing and characterization.
• Glencore TechnologykeyTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner that certified Corem for conducting the standard IsaMill Signature Plot Test. This certification validates Corem's laboratory methodology for fine grinding and regrind process evaluation, with 1:1 scale-up reliability from lab to mine site.
• Agnico EaglecoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Marc Lafontaine of Agnico Eagle serves as Vice-Chairman of Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Glencore CanadacoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Martin Lamothe of Glencore Canada sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs. Glencore Technology provides IsaMill certification.
• IAMGOLDcoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Anna Malevich of IAMGOLD sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Kinross GoldcoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Yves Breau of Kinross Gold sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Bahrain SteelcoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Eman Ebrahim of Bahrain Steel sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) / Rio TintocoreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Rolf Stösser of Rio Tinto IOC sits on Corem's Board of Directors. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• FLS (FLSmidth)coreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Equipment supplier and engineering firm member, contributing to precompetitive research and collaborative innovation in mineral processing technologies.
• Groupe M7coreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Magris PMI (Niobec)coreOthersOne of 11 industrial member companies of Corem. Member participates in precompetitive research and collaborative R&D programs.
• Raymond Chabot Grant ThorntonminorOthersProfessional services firm. Jean Morissette of Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton serves as Treasurer and Secretary of Corem's Board of Directors, and chairs the Audit Committee.
• FaskenminorOthersLaw firm. Benjamin Gross of Fasken sits on Corem's Board of Directors, providing governance oversight.
• Concordia UniversityminorOthersAcademic institution. Karim Zaghib of Concordia University sits on Corem's Board of Directors, representing academic perspective in governance.
• Québec Mining Association (Association minière du Québec)minorOthersIndustry association. Emmanuelle Toussaint serves as Observer on Corem's Board of Directors, representing the Quebec mining industry's perspective in governance.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• FLSmidth: Major mining equipment supplier and EPCM provider — a Corem industrial member and partner. Comparable mineral processing domain, but FLSmidth is a commercial equipment vendor rather than an R&D centre, making it an ecosystem partner more than a competitor.
• Hatch: Global engineering and project delivery firm with deep mining and metals process expertise. Corem already partners with Hatch on the TMS-recognized aluminum fluoride work; Hatch's process engineering and piloting scope is thematically adjacent to Corem's flowsheet R&D.
• Metso: Global leader in mining and aggregates processing equipment (crushers, grinding mills, flotation cells). Corem pilots and validates much of the equipment Metso sells, making Metso a key equipment-supplier peer and ecosystem partner.

Broad incumbents

• SGS: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with a large Minerals Services division offering metallurgical testing, geometallurgy, and mineral processing pilot services to mining clients. Comparable contract service revenue model, but broader portfolio and global footprint than Corem.
• Bureau Veritas Minerals: Major TIC firm providing laboratory testing and pilot-scale mineral processing services to the mining sector. Overlaps with Corem on contract metallurgical and assay work but at much larger global scale and with broader end-market exposure.
• Minerals Technologies (Mineral Technologies Inc.): Global specialty minerals company serving mining and processing customers with engineered mineral and process solutions, including iron ore pelletizing. Comparable expertise in iron ore agglomeration and pellet testing — directly adjacent to Corem's most differentiated service line.

Emerging players

• Steinert: Sensor-based ore sorting specialist whose COMEX industrial sorter is referenced by Corem as part of its physical separation capability. Comparable in the sensor-sorting niche, but as a niche OEM rather than a full-flowsheet R&D centre.

Direct peers

• CanmetMINING (NRCan): Natural Resources Canada's mining R&D division — a government-affiliated mineral processing research centre covering comminution, flotation, hydrometallurgy and environmental work. Most directly comparable to Corem as a publicly funded mineral processing R&D counterpart.
• JK Tech (University of Queensland): Commercial arm of the Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre (JKMRC), specializing in comminution and flotation circuit design, including JKSimMet-based simulation — the same software used by Corem. Directly comparable niche in mineral processing R&D and consulting.
• CSIRO Mineral Resources: Australia's national science agency, with a Mineral Resources business unit operating piloting and R&D across comminution, flotation, and hydrometallurgy. Closest international direct peer to Corem in scope and mission.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@corem7746
• Facebookfacebook.com/CoremInnovation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/corem

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Corem