Feds sink $6.7 million in AI platform and 'surgical mining' technology

Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stops in Sudbury to make funding announcement

During a July 9 press conference at NORCAT in Sudbury, federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly announced a $6.7-million federal contribution toward mining innovation projects. The projects are being led by Oakville-based Novamera Inc. and Vancouver-based Koonkie Canada Inc., and “will accelerate the development and adoption of Canadian technologies that support responsible resource development while strengthening Canada’s critical minerals supply chains,” according to a media release issued by the federal government. “The investments will help move innovative solutions from development to real-world deployment, creating opportunities for Canadian companies to commercialize and scale their technologies.”

Novamera is receiving $3.8 million from Canada’s Digital Technology Cluster toward a $10.9-million project to advance its surgical mining technology, which “combines advanced subsurface imaging, artificial intelligence, robotics and conventional drilling equipment to access critical mineral deposits with greater precision.” Koonkie is receiving $2.9 million toward an $8.9-million project “to develop an AI-powered platform that integrates environmental DNA analysis, soil health data, remote sensing and Indigenous ecological knowledge to support ecological restoration and biodiversity monitoring at mine sites.” “Supporting Canadian innovation means supporting the future of Canada's mining sector,” Sudbury Liberal MP Viviane Lapointe said in a media release.

“New technologies that make mining more precise and more sustainable will strengthen our critical mineral supply chains, help Canadian companies compete globally, and build on the expertise that communities like Sudbury have contributed to this industry for generations.” While in Sudbury, Joly made a few stops, including for a roundtable discussion centred on the economy at Cambrian College and an evening reception at Place des Arts.