BE SEEN, CHANGE MINDS, MAKE IMPACT
We invite innovative forward-thinkers from across the sector, including mining industry professionals, academics, NGOs, and young leaders, to present solutions to our annual Innovation and Research Battlefield challenges.
The Mining Innovation and Research Battlefield is a competitive event convened by the Development Partner Institute (DPI) and hosted at mining industry conferences worldwide.
It’s a lively global platform that seeks to bridge the gap between research, academia and the mining industry.
Piloting research innovation at speed, the Battlefield brings to life new and workable solutions to some of the industry’s toughest sustainable development challenges. With significant activity to date, this platform is already unlocking valuable sustainability advances.
OUR 2024/25 CHALLENGE
In 2024, competitors were tasked with responding to the challenge:
What are the innovative and sustainable solutions for revolutionising tailings management, and how can these be applied to achieve zero harm while supporting a more responsible and circular mining economy?
Entries opened October 1st, by way of a proposal that answers the challenge. Shortlisting took place from November 8, taking the ten applicants with the highest scores. Round 1 occurred online on November 28, with shortlisted applicants presenting their pitch to the panel of industry judges. Round 2 took place in-person at Mining Indaba on February 4, seeing the finalists pitching their idea to a different panel who chose the overall winner.
The winners were Lisa October and Diana Kasymova from the University of Cape Town and Metso, with a pitch focused on the utility of water in tailings and innovating the water cycle to reclaim tailings with fit-for-purpose recycling.
WHY AN INNOVATION AND RESEARCH BATTLEFIELD?
Now, more than ever, innovation and research will be critical to drive impactful decisions and to enable businesses to be innovative and agile in responding to current issues.
The Mining Innovation & Research Battlefield is a platform for the mining industry, academia, businesses, NGOs and young people who have a vested interest in sustainable mining for development solutions to come together.
OUR GOALS:
- To develop and test innovative solutions to tough sustainability and development challenges related to mining
- To strengthen collaboration between the mining industry and academia
- To engage young people studying at university and impassion them about the opportunities mining can bring, and how the industry can support communities and improve livelihoods
- To connect with researchers, academia, students and organizations that may have innovative research ideas to achieve sustainable development outcomes
- To increase the profile and contribution of research to good mining for sustainable development practice on the ground
- To collaborate and create effective partnerships to solve existing and future sustainability problems
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
FOR THE 2024/25 INNOVATION AND RESEARCH BATTLEFIELD
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All finalists secure an exclusive opportunity to pitch in front of global leaders in mining and receive peer recognition for their research. Finalists use the Battlefield as a unique platform to test and contribute new ideas on the global stage and receive instant feedback from leaders in both industry and academia.
Finalists in the Battle Round 2 will receive a delegate pass to the conference hosting Round 2.
FINALIST BENEFITS
In addition to having the opportunity to pitch in front of the world’s top mining companies and receive recognition for your research, the winning Innovation & Research proposal will receive:
- An innovation Grant to support your research up to US$25,000
- Industry Networking Event with the judges for winner and runners-up at our host conference. This is a rare opportunity to make face-to-face connections and form partnerships with both industry and academia.
- Year-round exposure on multi channels to our global audience
WINNER BENEFITS
Researchers, academia, students and organizations from all over the world are invited to submit their proposals. We encourage a diversity of applications for both new and existing innovative research- collaborations, university research, or even startup-backed ideas.
Note: To apply, you must be affiliated with either an institution or an organization who will assist in managing the awarded Innovation Grant.
WHO CAN APPLY?
HELP CHANGE MINDS AND SHAPE THE FUTURE OF MINING INNOVATION
Partner with us to make the next Battlefield bigger and better than ever.
