SMI Strategic Programs

21st century society requires increasing supplies of metals and minerals to address population growth, energy, food and water security, poverty reduction and escalating inequity. Improved efficiency, re-use, and recycling will help, but those things alone will not meet the needs of society.

At the Sustainable Minerals Institute we are leveraging off the expertise in our research centres and across other areas of The University of Queensland to deliver solutions to the sustainability challenges, and ensure the future supply of raw materials.

Our Strategic Programs focus on some of the big issues facing mining – unlocking complex orebodies, driving sustainability through leadership and organisational improvement, the use of development minerals to raise people out of poverty in developing countries, the development of trusted autonomous systems, and addressing the supply issues in the transition to a low carbon future.

Strategic Programs

Development of trusted autonomous systems and supplementary technologies supporting the transition of work and jobs in industries

Supporting industry leaders respond to increasingly significant environmental, health and well-being, safety and social expectations
Addressing materials supply risks on the path to net zero.
Research, education, technical assistance and capacity building on the local materials most important for local development. This Program has been transitioned into a SMI research centre, Global Centre for Mineral Security.
Unlocking complex orebodies to help meet growing demand for raw materials. This Program has been completed.