WELLINGTON, July 13 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand has established a new Regional Research Institute based in Greymouth that will use innovative research and manufacturing techniques to unlock the potential of New Zealand's mineral resources.
Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith said on Thursday that the New Zealand Institute for Minerals to Materials Research led by industry organization Minerals West Coast Trust, is the third successful proposal under the government's initiative to establish new Regional Research Institutes.
"Mining is and will continue to be an important part of the West Coast's economy, its history, and its DNA," Goldsmith said.
The new institute's strategic vision is to reposition this traditional sector using innovation to convert minerals into higher-value products which will "begin a new chapter in the history of the West Coast," he said.
The government will provide funding of 11 million NZ dollars (8 million U.S. dollars) over four years for the new institute, he said, adding that with additional funding from industry, it will operate as a private, independently governed organization.
The institute will explore three research areas initially, including purifying rare earth elements for use in magnets and lasers, extracting tungsten from gold mining waste and developing a carbon foam pilot plant.
"This research has the potential for significant commercial outcomes and economic benefits for the West Coast region including jobs, new infrastructure and export revenue," Goldsmith said.
