UpLink Sustainable Mining Challenge (Apply by 29 May)

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Sustainable Mining Challenge This challenge seeks groundbreaking technologies from all regions and industries, which can reduce energy consumption and minimize overall impact throughout the mining and metals lifecycle from discovery, development, extraction to post-mining transition. The focus areas of this challenge include: Innovative exploration technologies Sustainable and decarbonized extraction of minerals and metals Energy efficient processing and refining Valorization of mine residues Accelerating innovative technologies for energy efficient mining of minerals and metals This challenge seeks cross-industrial technologies like automation, internet of things, data analytics and AI, Quantum technologies, new rock fracturing techniques, in-ground recovery, low temperature technologies, eDNA biodiversity monitoring, and others to transform mining. Join us to harness these innovations and help shape the future of sustainable mining.  Selection criteria Submissions shortlisted in the first stage of review will be asked to fill out an additional questionnaire with technical information concerning the criteria below.   I. Business performance ﻿Commercial viability: Description of the financial maturity, market demand, potential business cases and time-to-market strategies for technology industrialization. Ensuring practical feasibility, attractiveness to clients, and long-term cost-effectiveness. Fundraising success: Successful fundraising as a marker of the start-up's ability to attract investment across development stages. II. Innovation and Potential for disruption Industry applicability: Clear demonstration of how the innovation will generate measurable impact towards the focus areas of this challenge. Technology readiness: Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL), favouring higher TRLs, while acknowledging prototypes for novel solutions with longer development cycles. Assessing the time-to-market timeline of the innovations.  III. Impact Clear impact pathways: Clear narrative towards relevant stakeholders with expected measurable environmental and socio-economic impact linked to the innovation proposed. Clear impact metrics: For instance, reduction of energy use, reduced footprints of CO2, water, land, and other environmental impact measures.  IV. Team Team dynamics: Balanced team with visionary leadership and complementary skills across technical, business, and operational areas. Key traits include adaptability, clear vision for the company, resilience in the face of challenges, ethical considerations in technology deployment and ability to raise capital. Technical and operational competence: Deep technical expertise in the relevant domain, proven experience in R&D, understanding of the market and customer needs, and the ability to execute projects with efficiency and agility. Benefits for selected Top Innovators Between 10-15 submissions will be selected as winners, recognized as Top Innovators, and receive support to enter, scale and drive sustainable disruption in the mining and metals sector. They will become part of the UpLink Innovation Ecosystem, a curated programme designed for Founders, CEOs, Executive Directors, etc., which provides: Access: Opportunity to participate in select World Economic Forum and partner-led events, projects, and communities. Visibility: Global exposure via the Forum and UpLink’s digital media channels and ecosystems. Connections: Strategic introductions to challenge ecosystem partners and select organizations in the Forum, UpLink, and Prospect Innovation’s networks. Partnerships: Opportunities for pilots, commercial agreements or equity investments. Targeted support: Programming and support on technical, business, and operational matters. Challenge timeline 28 April 2024: Challenge launch 28 April - 29 May 2024: Open for submissions June - September 2024: Review and selection process 17 September 2024: Announcement of the winning Top Innovators

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