The Imperial Mining Institute was a research agency of the Galactic Empire. As the Empire arrived on the Outer Rim planet of Lothal, Ria Clarr, an analyst who worked for the institute had done several geological surveys and found a rich vein of ore laying below the farms of Lothal citizens. She personally convinced Grand Moff Wilhuff Tarkin that mining would make a worthy profit, however, this resulted in deporting the farmers to Lothal re-settlement camp 43.