Sustainable Minerals Institute International Center of Excellence Chile

Name

Sustainable Minerals Institute International Center of Excellence Chile

Legal name

Sustainable Minerals Institute International Centre of Excellence Chile

Website

https://smiicechile.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Condes

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research grants and project funding: Funded through grants from government agencies such as ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo), CORFO, and international research partnerships. Projects are conducted on a contractual basis with mining companies and government ministries.
2. Industry consulting and partnerships: Direct consulting engagements with mining companies (Teck, Codelco, Antofagasta Minerals, Lundin Mining, BHP) for social performance, environmental management, and technical studies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SMI Chile is a research and knowledge transfer institute that conducts applied research, consulting, and capacity-building projects for the mining industry in Chile and Latin America. Its core offerings include four research lines (Responsible Production and Mine Process Optimisation, Social Performance and Resource Governance, Environmental Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Dynamics, and Comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health) and three strategic programs (Responsible Management of Salt Flats and Wetlands, Integrated Water Management, and Sustainable Mine Closure), along with a proprietary Planning Tool for Integrated Water Systems and access to JKTech mining software products.

Product overview

SMI Chile is a research institute affiliated with The University of Queensland, Australia, that offers consulting services, research programs, and specialized tools focused on sustainable mining practices. The organization provides services through four main research lines (Responsible Production and Mine Process Optimisation, Social Performance and Resource Governance, Environmental Rehabilitation and Ecosystem Dynamics, and Comprehensive Occupational Safety and Health) and three strategic research programs (Responsible Management of Salt Flats and Wetlands, Integrated Water Management, and Sustainable Mine Closure). Their product portfolio includes a Planning Tool for Integrated Water Systems and access to JKTech Mining Software, which support the mining industry in achieving long-term sustainability through research-based solutions, knowledge transfer, and technology development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Planning Tool for Integrated Water Systems (Herramienta de planificación para sistemas integrados de agua) A specialized planning tool developed for optimizing integrated water supply systems in mining contexts. It is designed to guarantee water access for all users at low cost while minimizing adverse environmental impact, targeted at mining companies and water-resource stakeholders.
• JKTech Mining Software Mining industry software products developed by JKTech, including process optimization and simulation tools (such as JKSimMet) for mining processing operations. SMI Chile offers JKTech software to mining clients in Latin America.

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Queensland (UQ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMI Chile is an integral part of The University of Queensland's Sustainable Minerals Institute. UQ provides institutional governance, academic oversight, research frameworks, and connection to the global SMI network of research centers.
• Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSMI Chile operates as one of nine SMI research centers (originally eight in Australia, now including Chile). Benefits from shared research methodologies, intellectual property, and collaborative projects across the SMI network.
• Universidad Católica de SaltaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for training and capacity building programs for mining workers in Latin America.
• ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean national research agency providing funding and recognition for scientific research projects conducted by SMI Chile.
• CORFOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChilean development agency supporting innovation projects. SMI Chile participates in CORFO programs such as 'Crea y Valida' for innovation projects.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Worley: Global energy and resources engineering consultancy with sustainability, closure, and water practices serving major miners. Competes for the same enterprise-level mining sustainability advisory work.
• Ausenco: Engineering and consulting firm serving the mining sector across Latin America. Overlaps with SMI Chile on responsible production, process optimization, and sustainability advisory for mining clients.
• Hatch: Global engineering and project management firm with deep mining expertise spanning process optimization, tailings, and mine closure. Hatch's sustainable mining advisory overlaps with SMI Chile's responsible production research line.
• WSP (including Golder): Global engineering and environmental consultancy with one of the largest mining services practices after acquiring Golder Associates. Competes head-to-head with SMI Chile on environmental and mine closure projects across Latin America.
• ERM (Environmental Resources Management): Global environmental, social, and sustainability consultancy with a large mining practice. ERM competes for the same mine closure, water management, social performance, and ESG advisory mandates that SMI Chile delivers, but at global scale.

Direct peers

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency with a dedicated Minerals Resources business unit running applied research for the mining sector. CSIRO is the closest analogue to SMI/UQ in terms of public-good mining science mandate, IP development, and engagement with both government and tier-1 miners.
• SRK Consulting: Independent mining-focused consultancy covering geology, geotechnics, water, and mine closure. SRK's Chilean practice directly competes for technical mining studies and is the closest pure-play mining consulting peer to SMI Chile's work.
• SLR Consulting: Global environmental and advisory consultancy with a substantial mining practice covering water, closure, and ESG. SLR is a direct competitor in the Chilean market for environmental and social performance mandates.

Emerging players

• CRU Group: Mining-focused research and advisory firm producing market intelligence and sustainability analysis. Comparable to SMI Chile in the research/knowledge-transfer orientation, but commercially oriented and global rather than academic and regional.

Others

• International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM): Industry association that sets sustainability standards and convenes mining majors, governments, and communities. Adjacent to SMI Chile's convening role in Chile's lithium strategy and mine closure programs; functions as an ecosystem participant rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smiicechile
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMqSTK_KYQx_0c0djbGX4kQ
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smiicechile

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Sustainable Minerals Institute International Center of Excellence Chile