Mining3
Mining3 is an Australia-based, industry-directed mining research organisation that develops transformational technologies — autonomous systems, methane abatement, hydrogen haulage, and cave mining solutions — serving major global miners, OEMs, and research institutions through a membership and consortium model under CMTE Development Ltd.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersBrisbane, Australia
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Mining3 does
Mining3 is an industry-directed mining research organisation headquartered in Brisbane, Australia (Pinjarra Hills, University of Queensland campus), with a regional office in Santiago, Chile. Originally established as CRCMining in 1992, the entity was re-formed in 2016 through a merger with CSIRO's Mineral Resources Business Unit and now operates under the legal name CMTE Development Ltd as a tax-exempt company limited by guarantee. Its mission is to develop and commercialise transformational technologies that improve the productivity, sustainability, and safety of mining, serving a membership comprising the world's largest mining companies (BHP, South32, Rio Tinto, OZ Minerals, Vale, Newcrest Mining, Fortescue Metals Group, PT Merdeka Copper Gold), OEMs (Komatsu, Caterpillar, Dyno Nobel), mining contractors (Thiess), and academic partners (CSIRO, UQ, QUT, AMTC/University of Chile). CSIRO participates as a Research Member with a 50% share of future commercial returns.
Mining3's technology portfolio spans cave mining systems (Cave Tracker, REVEAL for Caving with Ideon's subsurface beacon), hard-rock cutting (DynaCut for autonomous continuous miners), methane abatement for underground coal (CATCH4 with LETA), hydrogen fuel cell haulage (Hydra Consortium), battery-electric and autonomous haulers, alternative hydrogen-peroxide explosives, autonomous sensors for tailings dams, in-situ recovery, and the Value Modelling software tool for forecasting the business case of new mining technologies. The organisation has a demonstrated commercialisation track record through spin-off companies including MineWare (acquired by Komatsu in 2017), SmartCap Life (fatigue monitoring), Aura IQ (conveyor monitoring with Ava Group), V2H International (water-jet drilling), and RoXplorer (coiled-tubing exploration drill rig).
Mining3 monetises through three revenue streams: (1) recurring annual membership subscriptions from mining companies, OEMs, and research institutions that confer access to research outcomes, technical committees, and co-development rights; (2) direct project funding from industry members, government grants (e.g., LETA, CORFO, Queensland Government), and non-member partners for specific research programs; and (3) commercial activities including royalty payments, licence fees, and equity-style returns from Mining3-owned spin-off companies. The primary go-to-market channels are the annual Innovation Forum, specialised forums (Sensing the Gap, Modelling the Gap), and direct member engagement through multi-party consortia such as Cave Mining 2040 and Hydra. All IP generated through research is held centrally by CMTE Development Ltd and commercialised via spin-offs, licensing arrangements, or royalty streams shared with CSIRO.
Mining3 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mining3
- Legal name
- CMTE Development Ltd
- Website
- https://mining3.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Mining3 is an Australia-based, industry-directed mining research organisation that develops transformational technologies — autonomous systems, methane abatement, hydrogen haulage, and cave mining solutions — serving major global miners, OEMs, and research institutions through a membership and consortium model under CMTE Development Ltd.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mining3 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mining Research and Technology Development
- NAICS
- Support Activities for Mining (213)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mine Surveying & Geospatial Services (Survey, Drone/LiDAR, GIS, Grade Control) (IMAKAKAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Environmental, Permitting & Closure Services (EIA, Compliance Monitoring, Reclamation Execution) (IMAKAKAJ)
Keywords
Where Mining3 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brisbane
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Mining3 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from mining companies, OEMs, and research institutions that provide access to research outcomes, technical committees, and collaborative development opportunities
- Direct Project Funding: Funding from industry members, government grants (from government and other groups), and non-member industry partners for specific research projects
- Commercial Activities: Royalty payments, license fees, and revenue from Mining3-owned spin-off companies
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Mining3 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mining3 is an industry-driven research organization that develops transformational technologies for the global mining sector in areas including rock mechanics, cave mining, autonomous systems, hydrogen haulage, and methane abatement. The organization funds research through a membership model with mining companies, OEMs and research institutions, and commercializes outcomes via spin-off companies and licensing. It also delivers consulting services and software tools such as the Value Modelling platform for technology forecasting.
Product overview
Mining3 is a world-leading research organization directed by the global mining industry to develop and deliver transformational technology. The organization operates a portfolio of core products including Cave Tracker (real-time block cave rock movement monitoring), Catch4 Project (catalytic methane abatement for coal mines), and DynaCut™ (hard rock cutting for autonomous continuous miners). These are complemented by research initiatives in autonomous electric hauler systems, hydrogen fuel cells (Hydra), cave mining methods (Cave Mining 2040), alternative explosives, and in-situ recovery. Mining3 has successfully commercialized technology through spin-off companies including MineWare (dragline/shovel monitoring, acquired by Komatsu), SmartCap Life (fatigue monitoring), Aura IQ (conveyor monitoring), and V2H International (water jet drilling). The organization provides value modelling tools to help the industry assess new technologies and supports technology transfer through OEM and industry partnerships.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Cave Tracker Block cave technology enabling real-time measurement of fragmented rock movement under gravity and monitoring its flow through to extraction, used by underground mining operators.
- CATCH4 Project Research and deployment initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal mining operations by mitigating Vent Air Methane (VAM) through catalytic abatement technology, targeted at coal mine operators.
- DynaCut Hard rock cutting technology integral to a new autonomous continuous miner, designed for mechanized underground mining applications.
- Value Modelling Dynamic software solution that forecasts the value, risk and business case of new mining technologies using a whole-of-business value driver tree modelling approach, used by mining technology adopters and developers.
- Cave Mining 2040 Research Program Collaborative research program developing new knowledge and methodologies for mass underground metalliferous mining using cave methods at depths approaching 2000m, available to mining consortium participants.
- Hydra Consortium Research initiative focused on renewable generation, compression, storage and supply of hydrogen for use in hydrogen fuel cell haul truck powertrains in mining operations.
- Mining3 Consulting Services Business case development and consulting services for mining companies and SMEs, including those operating in Chile, providing feasibility and technology assessment expertise.
- Alternative Explosives Program Research and development of explosives technology to improve productivity, sustainability and safety of mining, including hydrogen peroxide-based emulsion explosives that produce no toxic fumes, supplied to explosives manufacturers and mining operators.
- Autonomous Sensors for Tailings Dams Autonomous sensor monitoring systems using IoT devices for real-time monitoring of tailings dams and spoil dumps, providing environmental and stability data to mine operators.
- REVEAL for Caving Subsurface intelligence solution providing ultra-reliable, long-life positioning and monitoring for cave mining applications, enhanced by Ideon Technologies' multi-modal wireless beacon.
Quantifiable outcome
- Reduce mining costs by 50% and time by 50% in surface mass material movement
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mining3
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Mining3 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature10 records
Mining3 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- InEightcoreMining3 partnered with InEight, a project controls software provider, to support delivery of the CATCH4 Program. The partnership deploys InEight's suite of project controls solutions including integrated planning, cost and risk tools across CATCH4 work packages to manage R&D, field trials and technology deployment with real-time visibility of schedule, budget and performance.
- Ideon TechnologiesmajorMining3 partnered with Canadian subsurface intelligence leader Ideon Technologies to develop a new 'smarter', multi-modal, wireless subsurface beacon solution to enhance REVEAL for caving applications.
- ABD SolutionsmajorMining3 partnered with ABD Solutions, a pioneering company specializing in autonomous vehicle solutions and advanced driver assistance systems. The partnership aims to accelerate vehicle autonomous solutions for the mining industry.
- hte GmbHcoreMining3 and LETA partnered with hte GmbH to accelerate development of catalytic technology to reduce methane emissions from Australian mine sites as part of the CATCH4 Program.
- Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC)majorMining3 and AMTC (University of Chile) signed a three-year collaboration agreement for advancing research and development in in-situ leaching and in-place mining technologies.
- Low Emission Technology Australia (LETA)coreMining3 and LETA partnered on the CATCH4 Program for catalytic methane abatement technology. LETA is a not-for-profit investment fund that accelerates development and deployment of low emission technologies for Australian mines. Phase 1 was successfully completed with Phase 2 underway.
- Eartheye Space TechnologiesminorMining3 collaborates with Eartheye Space Technologies, the largest multi-sensor satellite aggregator platform for self-service direct tasking and information feeds, through a Memorandum of Understanding.
- Newcrest Mining, Vale, OZ Minerals, BHP, PT Merdeka Copper GoldcoreMining3 and SMI joined forces with major mining companies to develop Cave Mining 2040, a consortium focused on mass underground metalliferous mining using cave methods at depths approaching 2000m.
- Ava GroupmajorMining3 and Ava Group signed a development and commercialisation agreement for Aura IQ, a predictive conveyor monitoring solution using technology from Future Fibre Technologies (FFT), an Ava Group company.
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)coreMining3, QUT and Caterpillar signed a collaborative agreement for R&D of a new positioning system for underground mining, with Queensland Government funding through Advance Queensland Innovation Partnerships program.
- CSIROcoreCSIRO joined Mining3 as a Research Member contributing substantial funding in people and operating expenses, holding a seat on the Board and 50% share in future commercial returns. CSIRO provides researchers who form part of Mining3.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mining3 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CRC ORE: Australian mining research cooperative focused on optimising resource extraction — the closest direct comparable to Mining3 in terms of consortium-driven mining R&D model and Australian operator membership base.
- Epiroc: Global mining and infrastructure equipment manufacturer with a major autonomy, automation and digitalisation business unit that directly competes with Mining3's autonomous haulage, sensing and drill-monitoring research themes.
- Hexagon Mining: Mining division of Hexagon providing surveying, geospatial, fleet management and mine planning software — directly comparable to Mining3's Cave Tracker, REVEAL for Caving, and Value Modelling offerings.
- Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), University of Queensland: UQ-hosted mining research institute and Mining3 partner, sharing principal Neville Plint (formerly SMI Director) and overlapping research themes in rock mechanics, cave mining and mineral processing.
Emerging players
- RCT: Australian mining autonomy, monitoring and smart-technology provider overlapping with Mining3's ABD Solutions autonomous-vehicle partnership themes and underground positioning R&D.
- GroundProbe (Orica): Slope stability and tailings monitoring technology company acquired by Orica — comparable to Mining3's tailings dam and rock-mass autonomous sensing research under specific domain focus.
- JKTech: UQ-affiliated mining technology commercialisation company — formerly led by current Mining3 CEO Neville Plint — focused on transferring mineral processing research to industry, comparable in its SME-scale mining tech commercialisation role.
Broad incumbents
- Komatsu: Mining OEM, Mining3 board member and 2017 acquirer of Mining3 spin-off MineWare; parallel investments in autonomous haulage and mining equipment make it both customer and competitor.
- Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Major mining equipment OEM with large in-house R&D in autonomous and electrified mining equipment and rock tools, partially overlapping with Mining3's DynaCut continuous-miner and rock-mechanics research.
- Caterpillar: Mining OEM, Mining3 member and QUT-collaboration partner for underground positioning systems; large in-house mining R&D budget partially overlaps with Mining3's autonomous systems programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mining3 social profiles
Digital presenceMining3 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mining3 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles18 records
Mining3 subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Mining3 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mining3 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mining3
What does Mining3 do?
Mining3 is an industry-driven research organization that develops transformational technologies for the global mining sector in areas including rock mechanics, cave mining, autonomous systems, hydrogen haulage, and methane abatement. The organization funds research through a membership model with mining companies, OEMs and research institutions, and commercializes outcomes via spin-off companies and licensing. It also delivers consulting services and software tools such as the Value Modelling platform for technology forecasting.
Is Mining3 a public or private company?
Mining3 is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mining3 founded?
Mining3 was founded in 1992. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Mining3 based?
Mining3 is headquartered in Brisbane, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Mining3 make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are direct Project Funding and commercial Activities.
Who are Mining3's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CRC ORE, Epiroc, Hexagon Mining and Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI), University of Queensland. Emerging players are RCT, GroundProbe (Orica) and JKTech. Broad incumbents are Komatsu, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions and Caterpillar.
Does Mining3 have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mining3.
What industry is Mining3 in?
Mining3's product category is Mining Research and Technology Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKAKAK, Mine Surveying & Geospatial Services (Survey, Drone/LiDAR, GIS, Grade Control), with a secondary code of IMAKAKAJ, Environmental, Permitting & Closure Services (EIA, Compliance Monitoring, Reclamation Execution). Its NAICS code is 213.