The project has always received strong and long-term support from the Australian mining industry and some North American companies. During the period 1996-1999 the number of sponsors supporting the project essentially doubled, including a large contingenent from the South African mining industry. Over the last 4 years there has been a increase in support from North American companies. A significant number of mineral processing equipment suppliers, consultants and service providers to the mining industry also joined the project. As a result, 38 companies supported the project during the P9M extension 2000-2003. This expansion of the support base has enabled a number of further opportunities to the project. There is now a more international range of sponsor companies, allowing best practice to be benchmarked around the world. The inclusion of suppliers closes the loop between research outcomes, new technology and the end users, and allows new opportunities to be commercialised more quickly.

ROM feed to Cannington concentrator

Three levels of sponsorship are available to sponsors of the project. These are described below along with the advantages and benefits to be gained from each level:

Major Sponsors
Mining companies who receive all information and reports from all aspects of the project. Major Sponsors can also nominate their sites as research sites for evaluation and validation of some of the research outcomes. During these site trials, the opportunity exists to have a concurrent program of research undertaken on a specific issue related to the operation. Major Sponsors are also able to access the project team for a detailed presentation/seminar arranged for their company representatives on 2 occasions during the life of the project. This level of sponsorship is the most effectual in terms of getting the maximum interaction and involvement from the research team.

Minor Sponsors
Available to mining companies, this level of sponsorship entitles companies to receive all information from the project, access all the outcomes and attend the meetings. However they will not be able to nominate their sites for any of the research program without upgrading their support to a Major Sponsor level. Any site work undertaken will be at full consultancy rates.

Equipment / Engineering Suppliers
Available to companies who do not have mining operations. This level allows companies to participate in the project, receive all information and attend all meetings etc. Current sponsors in this category have received good value through participation in new technology development with their customer base. These companies are an important contributor to the project as they are the companies which pick up on some of the new products and ideas being generated in the project and provide the commercial products to industry.

All sponsors have rights to access and use the project technology and become involved in further commercialisation of any valuable outcomes, as is specified in the AMIRA P9M Research Proposal document.