2510 5. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: INTERNATIONAL MODELS OF MINING RESEARCH GOVERNANCE 5.1 The case of Chile: centers of excellence and public-private coordination Chile has developed a robust institutional ecosystem for mining research, characterized by the existence of centers of excellence with high academic autonomy, mixed financing, and a clear alignment with the country's mining and innovation policy. In this regard, as part of the 2006 Basal Funding Program for Scientific and Technological Centers of Excellence (Basal Funding) promoted by the National Commission for Scientific Research (CONICYT), now the National Research and Development Agency (ANID)56. As part of this Financing Program, the Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC) was created in March 2009. This research center is part of the Faculty of Physical and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Chile, and its scientific work is organized into five research groups: deposit exploration and modeling, mining design and planning, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy, mining automation, and water and environmental sustainability. As part of its work, AMTC57 has developed successful research projects that have resulted in prototypes, software, and collaboration with mining companies, as well as cooperation and joint research initiatives with public entities and other research centers worldwide. In line with this, both the AMTC and other research centers, such as the Center for Research in Sustainable Mining (CIMS JRI) and the Sustainable Mining Institute – ICE Chile, operate as platforms for coordination between universities, mining companies, and the government. These centers are part of a national strategy that explicitly recognizes the importance of mining innovation for competitiveness, environmental sustainability, and energy transition. The governance of these centers combines scientific autonomy with accountability mechanisms, impact assessment, and strategic alignment with national priorities, including critical minerals and decarbonization. A distinctive feature of the Chilean model is the clarity of the rules on intellectual property and technology transfer, which reduces conflicts between actors and facilitates the application of research results in the productive sector. Likewise, the existence of competitive long-term public funding contributes to reducing exclusive dependence on private funds. 5.2 The case of Australia: mining research as state policy Australia is one of the most advanced examples of integration between mining research, public policy, and energy transition. Institutions such as CSIRO, the Sustainable Minerals Institute at the University of Queensland, Curtin University, and the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia operate under governance schemes that recognize mining research as critical state infrastructure. Australia's critical minerals policy explicitly incorporates the role of scientific research in security of supply, technological innovation, and sustainability. Research centers have academic autonomy, stable public funding, and clear mandates to collaborate with industry without compromising their scientific independence. From the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Australian model stands out for its focus on responsible innovation, transparency, and multi-stakeholder participation. Mining research is not conceived solely as a support for economic growth, but as an instrument for climate action, environmental protection, and regional development. 56 Source: https://anid.cl/ 57 Source: https://www.amtc.cl/acerca-de-amtc/
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