Collaborative R&D ? A 50 Year Journey

Abstract

The Australian Minerals Industry Research Association (A.M.I.R.A.) was created in 1959 in Melbourne by the leaders of Australia's major mining companies. There were two key drivers for the establishment of A.M.I.R.A. The first related to an approach to the industry from both the Prime Minister and the Premier of South Australia for assistance in converting the Metallurgical Branch of the South Australian Mines Department into a national facility. The industry leaders of the time recognised that there was no industry body which could undertake such a task, so A.M.I.R.A. was formed. The second driver was to provide a vehicle for industry support of research in universities and government laboratories. AMIRA's main function is to develop, broker and administer collaborative research projects in geoscience, exploration, mining, mineral processing and sustainability with leading research groups around the world for the benefit of its member companies. Over the years AMIRA has been involved in many collaborative projects focusing on minerals-related geophysical research. Regrettably though over the last ten years we have experienced a reduction in geophysical research activity in Australian institutions. The implications of this decline on research capacity and indeed on graduate and post-graduate geophysics training are potentially serious from a local Australia perspective.