Literature review of advanced research and innovation in the mining industry

Abstract

[Abstract]: Technology Transfer is defined as, a purposive, conscious effort to move technical devices, materials, methods, and/or information from the point of discovery or development to new users. The aim of this project was to apply this process to the Australian Mining Industry. This was accomplished by firstly investigating the technologies used in the Mining Industry and developing methods by which technologies can be transferred to other industrial fields. And secondly through the identification of industries that are unrelated to the mining industry, develop transfer methods that allow the adaptation and development of technologies of these industries into the mining industry. The main focus of this project was to research Technology Transfer methodologies within the Australian Mining industry and report on the methodologies used. This was accomplished through the review of advanced literature which focused on Technology Transfer and issues affecting Technology Transfer. The main issues to come from this were the level of the Government support and involvement within the promotion of research and development of technologies that are capable of transfer. Technologies relating to the transfer process were also researched to establish transfer types and methodologies that are currently employed by the Mining Industry. The results from these technologies were used to form the boundaries for a Technological Dissemination Model. This model is the start of creating a successful transfer process for technologies within the Mining Industry as well as other industries. Due to this fact, future work will need to be carried out to complete the Technological Dissemination Model. Some of the future work will include the development of the model within the framework of the Mining Industry and the application of the completed model to a transfer of technology. It is hoped that the information presented in this report will add to the Technology Transfer knowledge base and even be converted into an Industry Technology Roadmap in which future needs are identified and a series of potential future directions are defined for the project.