The Critical Minerals Equipment Hub was founded in 2023 when the Camborne School of Mines (part of the University of Exeter) secured an impressive £3.5 million in funding from the Shared Prosperity Fund for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This substantial financial boost enabled the Hub to embark on a 1.5-year long mission to acquire key pieces of equipment in the field of critical minerals processing, to benefit not only the University, but anyone with a commercial or research interest in the area.
The funding will enable a variety of projects, ranging from external commercial business contracts to entrepreneurial endeavours, as well as RD&I proposals, feasibility studies and educational support initiatives.
Core Partners
The Hub is comprised of four core partners—The Camborne School of Mines, Paterson & Cooke, Bluecap Resources, and Petrolab— each play a pivotal role in its success. All partners will host and share equipment secured with Hub funding with the wider industry (at standard market value rates), along with their combined specialist knowledge. This collaboration aims to enhance the sector’s capabilities and foster a spirit of innovation and cooperation.
A Hub of Opportunities
As a new resource for the Geo-Resources sector, the Hub is due for completion in Spring 2025 and is set to become a beacon of innovation and learning. It will provide access to state-of-the-art equipment, as well as expert CPD (Continuing Professional Development) opportunities to businesses and entrepreneurs, including manufacturers, consultancies, and producers. One of the standout topics covered will be ‘Mineral Processing Theory for Lab Technicians,’ aimed at helping local technicians up-skill and gain recognition for their learning.
Elevating Technical Support Staff
Training programs being developed by the Hub are designed to target enterprise members with the specific goal of enhancing performance. By focusing on lower-level technical support staff, the Hub aims to improve their job performance and open up pathways to higher-level roles. This targeted training will not only benefit the individuals but also their companies, leading to overall sector growth. Further training and CPD offerings are planned to be developed and promoted in 2025, showing the Hub’s commitment to continual learning and development.
Building Networks and Collaborations
The Hub is dedicated to fostering growth within the sector by leveraging existing business and growth networks. Through organising and attending networking and knowledge-exchange events, it seeks to create collaborative opportunities and share sustainable solutions with the mineral processing community.
This funding and the subsequent projects underscore the Hub’s pivotal role in advancing the mineral processing sector while nurturing local talent and fostering business relationships. Stay tuned for more updates as the Critical Minerals Equipment Hub continues to make strides in innovation and education.
