Gold miner IAMGOLD and Sudbury’s Laurentian University have launched a $2.5-million innovation fund to advance research, education and innovation in the field of mineral resources.
According to the school, the IAMGOLD President’s Innovation Fund for Strategic Investment will “support academic and research projects that aid in the implementation of the university’s strategic priorities while driving innovation in mineral resources and mining education and research.”
The two parties made the announcement on March 3 during the annual convention of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), which is taking place March 2-5 in Toronto.
“IAMGOLD is proud to invest in the next generation of mining leaders through this fund. We are honoured to partner with Laurentian University to help our industry take the next step,” Renaud Adams, IAMGOLD’s president and CEO, said in a March 3 news release.
“This fund reflects our commitment to sustainable mining and innovative research; we are very much looking forward to seeing the impact this will have.”
IAMGOLD operates the Côté Gold Mine in Gogama, situated about halfway between Timmins and Sudbury.
In operation since May 2024, the mine is leading in innovation in a number of ways, including using autonomous haul trucks and autonomous blasthole drilling rigs on site.
In nine months of operation, the company has produced 199,000 ounces of gold, including 96,000 ounces in the fourth quarter.
SEE: Côté gold mine to hit its stride in 2025
Areas of priority for the new innovation fund include:
- environmental opportunities, such as emissions reduction, water stewardship, biodiversity support, and tailings management;
- social opportunities, such as student/community engagement, workforce training, and development;
- reconciliation with Indigenous peoples; and
- campus-wide opportunities, fostering collaboration and innovation.
Students, student associations, faculty and staff can all access the fund, which will provide up to $50,000 per project per year, for a maximum of two years.
To be eligible, projects will need to address challenges faced by the mining industry, providing practical, innovative, education and research-based solutions.
They can also meet the objectives listed in Laurentian University’s Strategic Plan 2024-2029, including the Academic Plan and the Strategic Research Plan.
“We are deeply grateful for IAMGOLD’s support,” Lynne Wells, Laurentian’s president, said in the release.
“This fund empowers students, faculty, and staff to shape the future of mining and education. We are proud to play a key role in developing the leaders that will push mining forward.”
