If you’re a WA METS company working on net-zero mining, critical minerals, or precision low-impact mining, this program could help you scale faster. It provides matched funding up to $250,000 from a $3 million pool, with applications assessed against MRIWA’s focus areas. Closing 2 September 2025 .
What is it?
The METS Innovation Program WA supports small to medium-sized METS (Mining Equipment, Technology and Services) businesses to commercialise innovative solutions that improve mining outcomes in Western Australia.
The program is run by the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) and directly supports WA’s economic diversification and net zero transition goals.
- Focus areas include:
- Net-zero emission mining
- Processing of critical minerals
- Green steel and metals
- Amplifying exploration
- Tailings and waste management
- Precision and low-impact mining
Projects must meet MRIWA’s definition of “minerals research”, meaning they must directly advance knowledge or capability within the mining industry.
Who is it for?
This program is designed for Western Australian-based METS companies with high-growth potential.
Eligible applicants must be:
- Based in WA and supplying to the mining sector
- Incorporated in Australia (or trustee of a trust)
- ABN & GST registered
- Less than $50 million turnover
Ideal applicants might include:
- A startup developing AI-driven drilling sensors
- An SME piloting tailings reuse technologies
- A scale-up providing green steel production tools
What’s eligible?
Funding can be used for projects that deliver:
- Development and commercialisation of new technologies.
- Improved mining efficiency, safety, or environmental performance.
- Collaborations with research organisations or industry partners.
❌ Not eligible:
- General business operating expenses.
- Projects unrelated to WA’s METS sector.
How much can you get
- Up to $3M in total funding is available.
- Grants are competitive and may require co-contribution.
- Funding must be applied to projects completed within WA’s outlined timeline.
- Official Program Page (business.gov.au)
How to apply?
- Applications open through business.gov.au.
- Competitive process — only the strongest projects will be funded.
- Applicants should prepare:
- A business plan and financials.
- Project details and expected outcomes.
- Evidence of industry support or partnerships.
Deadline: (insert exact closing date from the gov page once confirmed)
Mistakes to avoid
- Applying without a clear project plan.
- Weak alignment to mining innovation priorities.
- Lack of collaboration or industry backing.
Why work with Bulletpoint
- Over $100M secured in government grants.
- 250+ ★★★★★ Google reviews (4.8 rating).
- Honest, strategic advice — not just eligibility checks.
- Fixed fees and straight-talking support.
Who Should Apply?
The METS Innovation Program is designed for Western Australian businesses that supply the mining sector and can deliver real on-site impact — lower emissions and water use, safer operations, higher productivity, and more precise outcomes — within the project timeframe.
The ideal applicant has a defined product or solution ready to move from prototype to a mine-site pilot, backed by credible partners and a clear path to commercial adoption in WA.
- Technology companies building sensors, robotics, automation, or AI for drilling, processing, or safety.
- Equipment OEMs and integrators electrifying or hybridising light vehicles and ancillary plant.
- Process innovators in ore sorting, beneficiation control, or low-emissions process heat.
- Waste and water specialists commercialising tailings reuse, dewatering, or closed-loop systems.
- Energy and controls providers deploying mine-site microgrids, storage, and load optimisation.
- Consortia pairing an industry lead with a Western Australian research partner for validation and scale-up.
Applicants must be:
- Australian-incorporated entities (or trustees) with an ABN and GST registration.
- Based in Western Australia and supplying products or services to the mining industry.
- Under ~$50m turnover (SME focus) with capacity to deliver a site pilot in 12–24 months.
- Able to co-contribute funding (matched funding model — cash preferred; in-kind may be recognised).
- Backed by committed partners (e.g., an operating mine and/or WA research organisation with letters of support).
- In scope of “minerals research” — advancing knowledge or capability that improves mining outcomes in WA.
Note for research organisations: You’re encouraged to participate as a partner; however, the lead applicant should be an industry-based entity responsible for delivery and commercialisation.
Real-World Examples for the METS Innovation Program
Not sure if your project fits? Here are practical examples of what the METS Innovation Program in Western Australia is designed to support. These draw from the official focus areas — but are framed around what assessors actually want to see: real mine-site impact, measurable benefits, and a clear path to adoption.
- Electrify Light Vehicles & Ancillary Plant: Retrofit diesel utes, LV fleets, or pumps with battery-electric/hybrid systems; monitor diesel, noise and maintenance reductions over a 6–12 month pilot.
- AI-Guided Precision Drilling Sensors: Down-hole or rig-mounted sensing with ML to cut re-drills, overbreak and ground disturbance; validate accuracy and cycle-time gains with an operating mine partner.
- Critical Minerals Ore Sorting: Sensor-based sorting (e.g., XRT/PGNAA) to lift head grade and lower energy per tonne; include mass-balance, energy, and yield models for WA processing.
- Tailings-To-Product Valorisation: Convert tailings or waste streams into saleable inputs (e.g., construction blends); include LCA, compliance pathway and customer trials.
- Smart Dewatering & Water-Reuse Control: Sensor suites and control logic to reduce raw water draw and discharge; track water-intensity KPIs and cost savings on site.
- Low-Emissions Process Heat: Electrified or hydrogen-assisted heat for drying/calcining; report emissions per tonne, uptime and integration requirements.
- Autonomous/Robotic Inspection: Vision or robotic systems for high-risk, repetitive tasks (screens, conveyors, stockpiles); quantify safety incidents avoided and productivity uplift.
- Mine-Site Microgrid & Load Optimisation: Batteries, control software and demand shifting to cut diesel genset use; verify fuel and emissions reductions under real duty cycles.
- Exploration Accuracy Uplift: New geophysics plus ML targeting to reduce metres drilled per discovery; pre-register metrics and run a controlled WA field program.
If your solution delivers measurable environmental or productivity benefits on a Western Australian mine site — and can be piloted within 12–24 months with committed partners — it’s likely in scope for the METS Innovation Program.
The 5 Criteria You Must Nail
This grant is assessed against a formal merit framework — not a simple yes/no checklist. To be competitive, you need concise, quantified evidence for each criterion below.
- Criterion 1 – Advancing Western Australia: Prove tangible WA benefit with numbers (emissions, water, waste, safety, productivity, jobs/investment) and explain where and how results will be applied in WA.
- Criterion 2 – Project Design & Methodology: Show a clear, robust technical plan: why it’s needed, what’s novel, SMART milestones, verification methods, and risks with controls.
- Criterion 3 – Research Team & Sponsors: Demonstrate capable people and committed partners. Include roles, prior wins, multidisciplinary strengths, and letters of support with cash/effort commitments.
- Criterion 4 – Knowledge Transfer & Adoption: Specify outputs, end-users, dissemination and data plans, plus a practical pathway to adoption in an operating environment (commercial model, timing, barriers removed).
- Criterion 5 – Budget & Value-for-Money: Present a matched (1:1) cash budget tied to milestones and measurable outcomes. Keep costs reasonable and show leverage and ROI for WA.
Most applicants do well on one or two — to win, you must hit all five. We’ll unpack each criterion in the sections below.
Criterion 1 – Prove The WA Mining Impact
This is the highest-stakes section — and where most applicants lose marks. Keep it practical, quantified, and tied to a Western Australian site.
The real question assessors are asking is:
“If we give you $250,000, what’s the tangible return for Western Australia’s mining sector?”
Break your answer into two parts: measurable benefit + clear need for funding.
1A – Measurable Site Impact
Prove your tech makes mining operations in WA work better — cleaner, safer, faster, or more precise. Focus on outcomes, not features.
- What operation or asset? (e.g., drill & blast, haulage fleet, dewatering circuit, beneficiation step, tailings stream)
- What’s the current baseline? Put one number on it (e.g., diesel L/hr, water kL/t, re-drill %, incidents, recovery %, tailings t/month).
- What changes and why? The causal link from your tool to the improvement (sensor → decision → action → result).
- How will you verify? Devices, logs, third-party checks, sampling plan, statistical method, reporting cadence.
- Which focus area? Net-zero, critical minerals, tailings/waste reuse, precision/low-impact, exploration uplift, or safety.
- Timeframe: Pilot live and reporting within 12–24 months.
Now quantify it:
- “Cut diesel by 31% on LV fleet (32 → 22 L/hr) with hybrid retrofit; $1.2m annual saving at 10-site rollout.”
- “Reduce re-drill rate from 7.4% to ≤3.0% using AI drilling sensors; saves 1.6 days per campaign and lowers ground disturbance.”
- “Divert ≥1,000 t/month of tailings into saleable product; LCA shows ≥35% emissions reduction vs virgin inputs.”
- “Lower water intensity from 0.85 to ≤0.60 kL/t via smart dewatering; payback <18 months at two pits.”
- “Lift critical-minerals head grade by ≥12% with sensor-based ore sorting; energy per tonne down ≥15%.”
Use site-specific baselines, simple equations, and a one-page KPI table (Baseline → Target → Method of Verification → Reporting Date).
1B – Why It Wouldn’t Happen Without The Grant
This is additionality. Funding must unlock scale, speed, scope, or certainty — not subsidise business-as-usual.
A bad answer: “We’ll do it anyway; the grant helps with cost.”
A good answer:
“Without funding, we’d run a limited single-site pilot without the full sensor suite or independent verification. The grant enables a four-site program with third-party validation, accelerates delivery by 12 months, and includes a structured WA adoption plan.”
Make it explicit that the grant:
- Speeds things up — earlier deployment, faster evidence.
- Widens scope — more sites, features, or tougher operating conditions.
- Reduces risk — safety, technical, integration, or market risk managed with proper contingency and verification.
- Improves evidence quality — independent testing, LCA, metering, datasets and a publishable pilot playbook.
- Enables adoption — supports training, integration work, and letters/MOUs that convert to post-pilot uptake in WA.
Pro move: Add a one-liner cost/benefit for WA: “$250k enables verified data across four WA sites, unlocking a 3-year rollout that avoids ~9,800 tCO₂-e and saves ~$4.5m diesel/year.”
Criterion 2 – Project Design & Methodology
This is where you prove you can execute a safe, realistic mine-site pilot and generate decision-grade evidence. Assessors want a tight plan: clear milestones, acceptance criteria, risks under control, and a data method that stands up to scrutiny.
“Can this team deliver the pilot on time, on site, and produce reliable evidence for adoption in WA?”
2A – Plan & Milestones
Lay out a simple, milestone-based plan that shows how you will install, run, and verify the solution within 12–24 months. Each milestone must have a deliverable, acceptance test, and date.
| Milestone | Deliverable | Acceptance Criteria | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| M1 — Site Ready | Access confirmed; inductions complete; HSEQ approvals | Signed LoS; permit numbers; HAZOP/JSAs filed | Month 1 |
| M2 — Install & Commission | Hardware/software installed; operator training | Commissioning report; photos; training records | Month 3 |
| M3 — Data Capture | 90 days of validated operational data | Telematics/SCADA exports; QA log; uptime ≥95% | Month 6 |
| M4 — Impact Analysis | KPI analysis vs baseline; independent review | Report with methods, charts, confidence intervals | Month 8 |
| M5 — Adoption Plan | WA rollout plan & commercial model | MOUs/intent; integration tasks & budgeted timelines | Month 10 |
- Scope & Work Packages: Install, operate, verify, and translate to adoption. Keep tasks discrete and costed.
- Schedule: Account for procurement lead times, site shutdown windows, and seasonal conditions.
- Governance: Name the project owner, steering cadence, and change-control process.
2B – Risk, Safety & Readiness
Show that you understand the risks and have credible controls in place. Tie each risk to an owner and a mitigation.
| Risk | Likelihood / Impact | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Integration delays with site systems | Med / High | Early interface spec; sandbox test; vendor on retainer | Technical Lead |
| HSEQ exposure during install | Low / High | JSAs; lock-out/tag-out; hot-work permits; on-site safety supervisor | Safety Lead |
| Data gaps / poor uptime | Med / Med | Redundant sensors; alerting; weekly QA checks | Data Lead |
| Long-lead supply constraints | Med / Med | Early purchase orders; alternates approved; buffer stock | Project Manager |
- Readiness Level: State TRL/MRL; list prior trials and certifications; map any regulatory steps.
- Site Access: Include letters of support, infrastructure access notes, and induction/permit plan.
- Resourcing: Identify key personnel (Project Lead, Site Sponsor, Safety Lead, Data Lead, Commercial Lead) with 100-word bios.
2C – Data & Verification
Define how you will capture, clean, and verify the evidence. Keep it simple and auditable.
- Baselines: Who measured them, when, and with what device/system? (Attach screenshots/logs.)
- Data Capture: Device IDs, sampling rate, calibration schedule, and uptime target.
- QA & Independence: Weekly QA logs; third-party review of the impact analysis or LCA.
- Acceptance Tests: Pass/fail criteria for each milestone (e.g., “≥95% uptime over 90 days”).
- Reporting Cadence: Monthly ops update; end-of-pilot Impact Report and Adoption Plan.
Pro move: Attach a one-page Gantt and RACI that align exactly to the milestone table and budget lines.
Common mistakes: Milestones without acceptance criteria, no site access proof, optimistic lead times, and a data plan that can’t verify results.
Criterion 3 – Capability & Partners
This criterion tests whether your team and partners can deliver a safe, credible mine-site pilot and convert results into adoption in Western Australia. Show depth (people and track record), breadth (the right mix of skills), and commitment (cash, access, and time from partners).
“Does this team have the capability, partners and governance to execute on site and turn proof into uptake?”
3A – Team Capability
- Core roles covered: Project Lead, Site Sponsor, Technical Lead, Safety Lead (HSEQ), Data/Verification Lead, Commercial Lead.
- 100-word bios: Relevant wins (pilots, deployments), sector experience, certifications (e.g., electrical, confined spaces), and WA experience.
- Evidence of delivery: Prior trials, TRL/MRL statements, references, and example reports/dashboards you’ve produced.
- Resourcing reality: Availability in FTE per role; backfill plan; named subcontractors with scopes.
| Work Package | Responsible | Accountable | Consulted | Informed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site access & inductions | Site Sponsor | Project Lead | Safety Lead | All partners |
| Install & commissioning | Technical Lead | Project Lead | OEM/Subcontractor | Site Sponsor |
| Data capture & QA | Data Lead | Project Lead | Independent Reviewer | All partners |
| Impact analysis & report | Data Lead | Project Lead | Site Sponsor | Stakeholders |
| Adoption & scale-up plan | Commercial Lead | Project Lead | Site Sponsor | Executive |
3B – Partner Commitment
Strong partners de-risk delivery and accelerate adoption. Make their commitment explicit and verifiable.
- Operating site confirmed: Letter of Support with infrastructure access, data permissions, and named site champion.
- Cash & in-kind detail: Dollar amounts, roles, equipment time, and engineering support; timing aligned to milestones.
- Research partner (if relevant): Methods, validation tasks, LCA/measurement support, publication/knowledge-transfer plan.
- Adoption signals: MOU, pilot-to-purchase criteria, budget placeholders in partner’s capex/opex, or Board-level endorsement.
3C – Governance & Controls
- Steering cadence: Monthly governance with minutes, risks and decisions tracked; escalation path defined.
- Safety & compliance: HSEQ plan, JSAs, permits, and inductions; alignment to site standards (e.g., isolation, confined spaces).
- Data integrity: Device IDs, calibration logs, uptime targets, chain-of-custody for datasets; independent review step.
- Commercial clarity: IP/background/foreground, licensing model, and procurement pathway to move from pilot to rollout.
Pro move: Attach a one-page “Partner Pack” with the site champion’s name, equipment access windows, safety contacts, and a signed intent statement that links pilot success to a budgeted next step in WA.
Common mistakes: Generic letters with no access or cash specifics; unclear roles; thin HSEQ coverage; and no defined adoption trigger.
Criterion 4 – Knowledge Transfer & Adoption
This criterion tests whether your project will benefit Western Australia beyond the pilot site. You need a practical plan to share results, prove value, and convert proof into uptake.
“Who will use the results in WA, how will they access them, and what steps turn this pilot into adoption?”
4A – Knowledge Transfer Plan
Define what you’ll share, with whom, and when. Make the outputs usable by industry.
| Output | Audience | Channel | When | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pilot Playbook (install, commissioning, KPIs) | WA mine operators & OEMs | PDF + webinar | Month 8 | Project Lead |
| Dataset (anonymised KPIs + methods) | Researchers & integrators | Data portal (CSV + README) | Month 8 | Data Lead |
| Toolbox Talk & Training Pack | Site supervisors & crews | On-site session + video | Months 6–9 | Safety Lead |
| Industry Field Day (demo + Q&A) | Operators, investors, gov | On-site event | Month 9 | Site Sponsor |
- Set KPIs: ≥2 public-facing outputs; ≥40 industry attendees; ≥3 follow-on site requests; ≥1 independent review.
- Make it practical: include checklists, commissioning steps, calibration notes, and sample dashboards.
4B – Adoption & Commercialisation Pathway
Map the steps from pilot to purchase/rollout in WA. Name decision-makers and timing.
- Pilot → Decision: Acceptance criteria the site will use (e.g., “≤0.60 kL/t water; ≥95% uptime”).
- Decision → Procurement: Approved supplier status, safety approvals, cyber/IT review, budget line in capex/opex.
- Procurement → Rollout: Training, integration tasks, support model, spares, and success metrics at new sites.
- Commercial Model: Purchase, licence, or service (include price band and TCO vs BAU).
4C – Evidence Of Market Pull
Show that customers want this if it works. Make it visible and verifiable.
- Letters of Support: Name the site champion, the assets to be used, and the post-pilot decision date.
- MOU / Intent: “If acceptance criteria A, B, C are met, we intend to deploy at X additional sites in FY26.”
- Budget Placeholder: Partner includes a draft line in capex/opex for rollout, subject to pilot success.
- Pipeline: List 3–5 WA prospects with contact names and the next step after results are published.
4D – Data Access, IP & Permissions
- Data Rights: Confirm rights to collect, anonymise and publish KPI-level results; include a data dictionary.
- IP Position: Clarify background vs project IP; outline licensing path for WA users.
- Privacy & Safety: Remove sensitive site identifiers; maintain chain-of-custody for datasets.
Template line (copy/paste):
“If the pilot meets the acceptance criteria, [Partner] will commence procurement for [#] sites in WA, with installation windows and budget submitted in [month/year]. KPI datasets (anonymised) and the Pilot Playbook will be shared with WA operators via [channel].”
Pro move: Add a one-page “Adoption & Dissemination Plan” with dates, owners, acceptance criteria, and named audiences.
Common mistakes: Vague “we’ll publish a paper”, no audience, no adoption trigger, and no permissions to share data.
Ready To Win The METS Innovation Program?
We don’t just check eligibility — we build submissions that score. Candid advice, tight structure, and the exact evidence assessors want. Small warning with a smile: if you’re not working with us, there’s a fair chance you’re competing against us.
- Rapid Competitiveness Check — 15-minute read on fit, red flags, and your likely score band.
- Merit Criteria Mapping — We translate your tech into WA outcomes (emissions, water, safety, productivity) with numbers, not adjectives.
- KPI & Verification Pack — Baselines → targets → devices/logs → independent review. Decision-grade evidence only.
- Partner Wrangling — Letters that actually commit: access, data permissions, site champion, post-pilot trigger.
- Budget & Match That Adds Up — Milestone-linked work packages, quotes, GST basis, and clear value-for-money ratios.
- Risk & HSEQ Done Properly — JSAs, permits, readiness levels, and realistic lead times (no fairy-dust schedules).
- Adoption & Knowledge Transfer — Pilot playbook, anonymised datasets, training, field day, and a named rollout pathway in WA.
- Reviewer Lens Polish — We cut fluff, fix logic gaps, and make it easy to award points.
What It Takes To Be Competitive:
- Site-specific baselines with device IDs and sampling rates.
- Acceptance criteria the site agrees to in writing.
- Letters with access, data rights, and a post-pilot decision date.
- Quotes for big-ticket items; GST treatment stated; match funds evidenced.
- Gantt + RACI that mirrors milestones and budget lines.
- Simple VFM ratios: $/tCO₂-e avoided, $/ML saved, diesel $/yr at rollout.
Over $100M secured in government grants. 4.8★ from 250+ Google reviews. Straight talk, fixed fees, and zero waffle.
Book A Free METS Strategy Call★★★★★ Read Our 250+ Google Reviews
FAQs
Who can apply for the METS Innovation Program?
METS companies, startups, and SMEs based in WA.
What projects are eligible?
Projects that improve mining efficiency, safety, or sustainability.
How much funding is available?
Up to $3M in total, with individual grant amounts depending on project scale.
Ready To Win The METS Innovation Program?
We don’t just check eligibility — we build submissions that score. Candid advice, tight structure, and the exact evidence assessors want. Small warning with a smile: if you’re not working with us, there’s a fair chance you’re competing against us.
- Rapid Competitiveness Check — 15-minute read on fit, red flags, and your likely score band.
- Merit Criteria Mapping — We translate your tech into WA outcomes (emissions, water, safety, productivity) with numbers, not adjectives.
- KPI & Verification Pack — Baselines → targets → devices/logs → independent review. Decision-grade evidence only.
- Partner Wrangling — Letters that actually commit: access, data permissions, site champion, post-pilot trigger.
- Budget & Match That Adds Up — Milestone-linked work packages, quotes, GST basis, and clear value-for-money ratios.
- Risk & HSEQ Done Properly — JSAs, permits, readiness levels, and realistic lead times (no fairy-dust schedules).
- Adoption & Knowledge Transfer — Pilot playbook, anonymised datasets, training, field day, and a named rollout pathway in WA.
- Reviewer Lens Polish — We cut fluff, fix logic gaps, and make it easy to award points.
What It Takes To Be Competitive:
- Site-specific baselines with device IDs and sampling rates.
- Acceptance criteria the site agrees to in writing.
- Letters with access, data rights, and a post-pilot decision date.
- Quotes for big-ticket items; GST treatment stated; match funds evidenced.
- Gantt + RACI that mirrors milestones and budget lines.
- Simple VFM ratios: $/tCO₂-e avoided, $/ML saved, diesel $/yr at rollout.
Over $100M secured in government grants. 4.8★ from 250+ Google reviews. Straight talk, fixed fees, and zero waffle.
Book A Free METS Strategy Call★★★★★ Read Our 250+ Google Reviews