Since hydrometallurgical processing plants are highly capital intensive and so have a long lifespan, the main research need of industry is to optimise the existing extraction processes. Even small incremental improvements can result in considerable cost savings.

The required research is commodity specific - for example, the needs of an alumina company are quite different from those of the gold industry - and often plant specific. But in many cases, gaining a fundamental understanding of a particular step in a process is what is needed to make improvements.

The Parker Centre's research therefore spans six Research Programs in three broad areas:

1. Focus on Specific Commodities (research for the more immediate needs of the minerals industry):

• Alumina
• Gold
• Base Metals (including copper, nickel and zinc)

2. Development of Novel Technologies (research for the industry's longer term needs by improving the fundamental understanding of the key hydrometallurgical steps):

• Leaching, Separation & Reduction
• Crystallisation

3. Capability Enhancement:

• Technology Transfer

A major focus of the research effort is on overcoming the problems in processing plants caused by impurities in the system.

The Parker Centre also undertakes chemical engineering research to bridge the gap between the process chemistry research and implementation in industry. With the exception of the "Process Modelling & Flowsheet Development" project in the Technology Transfer Program, engineering research is conducted by each of the research programs as necessary.

The Centre has the capability for research at the atomic level to the plant scale and from the fundamental to the applied.

It can be the research supplier for small to medium companies lacking their own laboratories. It is also a viable alternative to in-house research by the larger companies who are increasingly outsourcing their research work.

Collaborative research with mineral processing companies ensures that the Centre’s researchers are focused on industry’s needs.

Most of the collaborative research projects with industry are carried out on a one-to-one basis to address specific company issues, and can be short-term or long-term work. However, the multi-client projects, often coordinated by AMIRA International, are usually the largest in terms of research teams and funding. AMIRA International is an industry association based in Australia which coordinates collaborative research for project sponsors in the global minerals industry. AMIRA projects are developed in conjunction with industry.

The Centre is active on-site at client locations within Australia and also in North America, the Caribbean, South America, Africa and Europe.

The Parker Centre has developed valuable cooperative links with international researchers which widen the Centre’s capabilities.

The Centre's Safety Policy is aligned with the safety practices and culture of the minerals industry.