SUDBURY — Aug. 5, 2022: RPMGlobal has announced an increase in funding for their optimisation software development program after receiving industry funding to support the further ongoing development of their decision support software for underground mining.
The support has been given by the government of Ontario through the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), an organisation that supports innovators to commercialise new Ontario based technologies. RPM acquired three optimisation software modules in December 2021 from Sudbury-based MIRARCO as part of a three-year collaborative research partnership. MIRARCO is an innovative solution research provider for the mining industry and research arm of Laurentian University.
Commenting on the OCI support, David Batkin, RPMGlobal’s head of product strategy, said it was terrific to be working with forward thinking, like-minded organisations. “RPM and MIRARCO have had a great working relationship for the past few years, and it is fantastic to be enjoying this additional support from OCI. It will go a long way to further develop these important optimisation programs.”
MIRARCO's president and CEO, Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, is thrilled to have secured the OCI funding to support this research. She stated, “This collaboration with RPMGlobal will result in full commercialisation and deployment of tools that will benefit the mining industry. We are really excited to have our teams working together as well as bringing together new academic collaborators from Queen’s University.”
The software modules benefitting from the investment are part of RPM’s design and scheduling product portfolio. These modules consist of the Advanced Valuation Module and the Ventilation Constraint Module, both of which extend and complement the functionality of RPM’s mine optimisation software solutions.
The Advanced Valuation Module (AVM) facilitates the generation of optimised underground mine plans that are robust to uncertain product prices and ore grades. The Ventilation Constraint Module (VCM) generates optimised underground mine schedules based on ventilation constraints.
The support provided by OCI will be matched by RPMGlobal and will be used to support the multi-year collaboration arrangement between RPM and MIRARCO. OCI has a proven track record when it comes to supporting software development.
Batkin said, “We are very thankful to OCI for this support and for having the foresight and vision to recognise the value that this technology will bring to the underground mining industry.”
About RPM: RPMGlobal Holdings Limited (ASX: RUL) [RPM®] has been advancing the global mining industry through the provision of innovative software solutions and deep domain expertise for more than 50 years. The company brings together its technology, mining advisory and professional development services to support mining customers to extract more value at every stage of the mining lifecycle. In partnership with the industry, RPMGlobal has delivered safer, cleaner, and more efficient operations in over 125 countries.
About the Ontario Centre of Innovation: The Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), brings industry, academic, and government partners together to invest in collaborative R&D, technology development, and commercialization opportunities that generate the highest return on innovation for Ontarians. As an ecosystem connector, OCI initiates unparalleled partnership opportunities, develops and manages successful industry-academic collaborations, supports high-potential SMEs in commercializing groundbreaking research, and provides hands-on training and skills development opportunities for the next generation of highly-skilled talent. OCI drives economic growth and job creation through investments in the development, commercialization and adoption of advanced technologies.
About MIRARCO: Mining Innovation, Rehabilitation, and Applied Research Corporation (MIRARCO) has over 20 years of contributions to applied research as an independent non-for-profit corporation and research arm of Laurentian University. Strategically located in the rich mining district of Sudbury, Ont., MIRARCO is comprised of talented academic and industry professionals offering expertise for applied research in mining and related industries. MIRARCO seeks to influence and assist the Canadian mining industry in establishing its brand and becoming a global leader, advancing innovation, safety, productivity, and sustainability through new technology and discoveries.
