The Mining Equipment, Technology and Services Roadmap highlights the vital role that the METS sector will play in the nation's innovation ecosystem in order to drive change to meet future global mining challenges and metal supplies.

It was developed in collaboration with the METS Ignited Industry Growth Centre, as well as government, industry and researchers.

Dr Larry Marshall, chief executive of CSIRO, said: “This roadmap is a great example of Strategy 2020's Customer First work, which aligns our science to Australia's needs. In a sense we use science to anticipate the future and help us navigate to a better outcome. METS is an important Australian sector and a global leader, but it can't rely on past successes in a rapidly changing global landscape. The sector must continue to innovate and take advantage of enabling technologies and new business models which are causing disruption across industries.”

The Roadmap identified five key growth opportunities to support the continued success of the METS sector, which are:

• Data driven mining decisions;
• Social and environmental sustainability;
• Exploration under cover;
• Advanced extraction; and
• Mining automation and robotics.

Underpinning the success of each of these opportunities is a raft of new technology developments, as well as critical changes to people, skills, culture, collaboration, processes and business models.

In addition to this Roadmap, CSIRO has collaborated with METS Ignited on the METS Sector Competitiveness Plan – a complementary piece of work that outlines the strategic foundations for success over the next decade.

"Mining productivity is increasingly dependent on integrating specialist technologies such as real-time sensors, mineral analysers and complex data, and the METS sector is vital in shaping mining's future," CSIRO Mineral Resources director Jonathan Law said.

"Collaboration will be key to success, which is why we're working with METS and mining companies, as well as organisation such as METS Ignited and Austmine to develop and accelerate the commercialisation of new advanced technologies.

"Innovation is providing METS companies with competitive export opportunities, while delivering benefits to Australia's mining industry and the nation's economy."

The Mining Equipment Technology and Services Roadmap is the third in a series of Roadmaps being produced by CSIRO Futures, each aligned to the Australian Federal Government's Industry Growth Centres.