Vale Inco is a research and development leader in the global mining industry. Vale Inco's mining and refining operations are strengthened by our commitment to research and development. For over 100 years, we have been using new technologies to improve mineral extraction, process technology, production, product development, and environmental and health initiatives.

We have been granted some 1,800 patents worldwide. We discovered many of the nickel alloys and production processes used widely throughout the industry today. Our operations use state-of-the-art equipment and technologies, many of them developed at our world-class research facility, Inco Technical Services Limited located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

The Vale Inco Research and Development program is aimed at creating value for our shareholders by supporting our three-pronged business strategy.

• Our Process Research and Engineering groups work with Vale Inco operations to lower operating costs and to produce nickel at the lowest possible price.
• Both Process Research and Engineering are working on technologies to optimize the production of valuable nickel and byproducts such as cobalt at Goro and Voisey's Bay.
• Our Product Research group leads the industry in producing specialized forms of nickel for high-tech applications through Inco Special Products.

We constantly seek more cost-efficient ways to reduce the environmental impact of our processes.

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© Vale Inco 2007
Last Updated: November 28, 2007