Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation and Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) Announce Strategic Partnership to Strengthen IP Strategy in Canada’s Mining Industry
SUDBURY, ON | March 25, 2026 — The Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), in its role as the manager of the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network, is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with the Innovation Asset Collective (IAC).
Effective February 9, 2026, this collaboration bridges MICA’s national innovation ecosystem with IAC’s world-renowned Intellectual Property (IP) expertise. Together, the organizations will empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to navigate the complexities of global markets by mitigating IP-related risks and fostering strategic ownership positions.
A Unified Vision for Mining Innovation
The partnership focuses on several key pillars designed to bolster the Canadian cleantech and mining sectors:
Strategic IP Support: Providing SMEs with resources to enhance their Freedom to Operate (FTO) and develop robust IP strategies. Ecosystem Engagement: Jointly developing approaches to engage mining, technology, and community stakeholders on a national scale. Knowledge Sharing: Disseminating success stories and non-confidential data across respective networks to drive industry-wide growth. Collaborative Networking: Aligning on conferences, summits, and outreach strategies to increase the visibility of late-stage mining innovations.
"This collaboration with the Innovation Asset Collective represents a meaningful milestone for the MICA Network,” said Chamirai Charles Nyabeze of CEMI. “By embedding IAC’s strategic IP expertise and resources into our ecosystem, we are helping Canadian mining innovators not only develop cutting-edge technologies, but also strengthen their IP ownership and freedom to operate — a foundation for sustainable growth and global competitiveness. Together, we are equipping SMEs with the tools they need to protect, scale and win in markets around the world."
“Canada has long been a global leader in mining. As critical minerals have become an economic priority around the world, Canadian companies have a unique opportunity to lead the future of the sector and advance more sustainable mining operations. With the right intellectual property strategy and ownership positions, mining innovators can capture and retain more of the long-term value created by their technologies,” said Mike McLean of IAC.
“Intellectual property is not a legal afterthought; it is a strategic asset that drives valuation, partnerships, and positioning. At Innovation Asset Collective, we help Canadian cleantech SMEs turn intellectual property into a strategic advantage that generates growth and competitiveness. We look forward to working with companies across the MICA network by providing the guidance, intelligence, resources, and funding they need to build strong IP positions.”
About the Partners
The MICA Network (Managed by CEMI)
Launched in July 2021 and supported by the Government of Canada’s Strategic Innovation Fund, MICA is a $300M national ecosystem dedicated to accelerating the commercialization of late-stage mining technologies. The network is managed by CEMI, a not-for-profit corporation based in Sudbury, Ontario, dedicated to solving mining industry challenges.
Website: www.cemi.ca
Innovation Asset Collective (IAC)
Innovation Asset Collective (IAC) is a not-for-profit, membership-based organization funded by the Government of Canada. With over 300 members, IAC is committed to improving Canadian SMEs’ global market access by mitigating IP-related risks, enhancing their freedom to operate (FTO), and fostering strategic IP ownership positions, supported by a team of world-renowned IP experts.
Website: www.ipcollective.ca
Media Contact:
CEMI / MICA
Marketing and Communications | CEMI & MICA