DIGITAL Funds Precision Extraction and AI-Powered Mine Restoration Technologies

Canada’s Global Innovation Cluster, DIGITAL, has committed C$6.7 million to advance two mining technology projects aimed at improving critical mineral extraction and ecological restoration. The funding supports Novamera Inc.’s precision drilling technology and Koonkie Canada Inc.’s AI-driven environmental monitoring platform. These initiatives are designed to enhance the productivity and environmental sustainability of the Canadian mining sector, particularly for minerals essential to the green energy transition.

DIGITAL is providing C$3.8 million to Oakville-based Novamera Inc. for its "Surgical Mining for Critical Minerals" project, which employs subsurface imaging, AI-driven simulation, and robotics to selectively target narrow mineral veins. This method, often compared to laparoscopic surgery, uses downhole sensors and guidance software to map mineralized veins and direct a large-diameter reverse circulation drill. By focusing strictly on the ore and backfilling openings with waste material, the process can reduce waste by up to 90% and lower environmental disturbance, making it a viable solution for remote or difficult deposits that conventional mining cannot reach efficiently.

Vancouver-based Koonkie Canada Inc. will receive C$2.9 million for its Multi-lens Ecological Restoration Monitoring and Forecasting initiative, an AI-powered platform that combines environmental DNA, mobile soil analysis, and remote sensing. This system integrates biological and landscape-scale data with Indigenous ecological knowledge to provide real-time insights into biodiversity and site health. Project partners anticipate that this integrated approach could shorten ecological restoration timelines by five to 10 years and reduce restoration costs by as much as 40% compared to legacy monitoring methods, offering a more streamlined path to mine closure.

These projects are part of a broader effort by DIGITAL to move Canadian mining technology from development to field adoption by connecting developers with industry partners for testing and validation. DIGITAL interim CEO Rhonda Barnet stated that these technologies are essential for strengthening Canada’s economic security and sovereignty, as the country seeks to scale its production of copper and rare earth elements for electric vehicles and digital infrastructure. By reducing the risks associated with new technology deployment, the initiative aims to help Canadian companies compete globally while meeting increasingly stringent environmental performance standards.