Swedish Mining Research & Innovation Days 2024 – Annual summit in Luleå
It was two days in Luleå filled with discussions, presentations and networking on the latest research advances, common challenges and the way forward. Sustainability taken seriously, unity, strong innovation system, but also need for even more internationalization – Five key takeaways as the mining industry’s leading researchers and innovators gathered at the annual Swedish Mining Research and Innovation Days.
👫 Sustainability is real – and everyone from left to right is on board with the mission
– What strikes us is your unity around sustainability in the future of mining. There is not the same polarization, but whether you are right or left politically. Everyone in this sector is working towards the goal, to build a future where we live within the limits of the planet. We can learn a lot from you, says David Welsh, Sun Corridor Inc. Executive Vice President, Arizona.
🤝 Consistency in challenges and needs
– We see a clear consensus and commitment to meet our challenge of access to metals and minerals needed to achieve a sustainable society. Here we are joining forces to create critical mass rather than competing, which is of course fundamental to solving the challenges we face, says Maria Swartling, Program Manager for Metals & Minerals.
🌳 Strong mining industry ecosystem is the basis for innovation
– The mining industry has a strong ecosystem of small companies, industries and cutting-edge research. The key to success now lies in collaborations where we include different perspectives. The big step forward will come when we can connect different processes and value chains within the industry. That’s when we will see important innovation and progress, says Katarina Öquist, R&D Manager Technology an Innovation Underground Division, Epiroc.
🌎A broader mining cluster is now needed internationally
– We need to build bigger networks, more of a European mining cluster, rather than just a Swedish one. Taking advantage of other countries’ experiences and funding opportunities can only strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, says Anders Sand, Research Manager, Boliden Mineral AB.
🇪🇺 The EU needs to shape funding to meet its long-term goals
– We need to rethink how we organize and support research and development to truly meet the 2040 and 2050 targets. To do so, we need to share best practices and ensure that these are widely implemented, says Daniel Cios, Policy Officer at the European Commission.
Anders Sand, Filip Simán, Katarina Öquist, Jenny Greberg & Graham Aid
The Bergforsk Award
Ervin C. Veress, Mellisa Tenaka Mundida & Jenny Isaksson
The Bergforsk Foundation’s Award for the best Master’s, Licentiate and PhD theses was presented during the end of day one, by the new Chair, Susanne Eriksson Rostmark, LKAB. The winners were:
Best Master’s theses – Investigating the effect of grinding method on ore beneficiation behaviour, Mellisa Tanaka Mundida, Luleå University of Technology
Best Licentiate theses – Crustal architecture of the Kiruna mining district – Structural framework, geological modeling, and physical rock property distribution, Ervin C. Veress, Luleå University of Technology
Best Doctoral theses – Settling Mechanisms of Valuable Metal Droplets in Iron Silicate Slag, Jenny Isaksson, Luleå University of Technology
One of the positive reflections from this year’s event was the large number of international participants and organizations, from Finland to Australia. For next year, we are aiming for a larger event with a program that summarizes all the positive things that the program has contributed to and that we can complement with new topics, more exhibitors and hopefully a further increase in international participants and speakers.
Maria Swartling, Program Director Metals & Minerals & Charlotte Andersson, Moderator and Programme Director, Swedish Mining Innovation
Audience interactions
Innovation Showroom
Presentations and highlights from the event 2024:
Smart Exploration Research Centre, knowledge and innovation for 21st century mineral exploration, Alireza Malehmir, Uppsala University
Business Sweden and Sustainable Mining, Mikael Johansson, Business Sweden
Environmental Governance Programme, Hugo Pedrosa Latorre, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency
Holisticic Value Model for the mining industry, “ESG-adjusted NPV-model”, Lisa Ek & Niklas Grönberg, Nordic Strategy Partners
Mistra Mineral Governance, André Månberger, Lund University
Waste2Place, Ramón Sánchez, Geomorphic Design Lead, VAST Landscape Architecture
More presentations coming soon
