Innovation
Over the past 2 decades the Queensland Government has invested more than $8 billion in research, development and innovation.
This investment is also complemented by significant private sector commitments, with over $139 million dedicated to research and development activities across all parts of the mining industry in the 2021-22 period.
Free geoscience data
Queensland’s world class pre-competitive geoscience data has been fuelling discoveries and business outcomes for decades. The data is fully digital and free to all users; an initiative by the Queensland Government to drive exploration across the state.
Complementing the digital data is around 6,000km of drill core from Queensland’s known mineral deposits, and coal and petroleum strata. The samples can be inspected and, in some cases, taken for further analysis. Exploration Data Centres are located in South East Queensland and the North West Minerals Province.
Research hubs
Queensland boasts academic hubs specialising in mining and critical minerals, including James Cook University in Townsville, Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay and the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland. It is these hubs, that have helped to establish our intellectual capability in geoscience and mining, and generate capacity for the benefit of investors, manufacturers, retailers and customers along the supply chain.
James Cook University
James Cook University (JCU) has been serving regional and remote communities to create a brighter future for graduates for over 50 years. JCU is a research-rich university with many partnerships with community organisations and private and government entities.
Recently, JCU has worked in partnership with the Queensland Government to find a new technique to discover copper isotopes.
Resources Centre of Excellence
The Resources Centre of Excellence (RCOE) was established to connect the brightest minds in research, technology, education and mining equipment, technology and services (METS) to shape the resources sector of the future.
The physical hub of RCOE is a central facility, located in Mackay, Queensland, that is supported by multiple satellite extensions with a global scope. These extensions include both actual and virtual spaces that provide a platform for the development of innovative solutions for the resources sector.
University of Queensland Sustainable Minerals Institute
The University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) is a world-leading multidisciplinary research institute committed to developing the people, technologies and approaches needed to address global sustainability challenges through the responsible supply of mineral resources.
- Last updated
- 20 June 2024
- Last reviewed
- 20 June 2024