Prospect Innovation, in partnership with UpLink, the World Economic Forum’s open innovation platform, announced today the launch of the Sustainable Mining Challenge at the World Economic Forum Special Meeting on Global Collaboration, Growth and Energy for Development 2024. Over the next three years, the collaboration aims to accelerate innovation by sourcing and supporting early-stage startups with groundbreaking technologies that have the potential to enable more energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable mining.
“The Sustainable Mining Challenge is a global call for innovative technologies that could reduce carbon emissions throughout the mining and metals lifecycle and meet the rapidly increasing demand for minerals vital for the clean energy transition,” said John Dutton, Head of UpLink, World Economic Forum.
“And this is just the beginning – the partnership between UpLink and Prospect Innovation is a multi-year collaboration that will play an essential role in ensuring the responsible environmental stewardship of our planet, the prosperity of communities, and the economic sustainability of the mining sector.”
Substantial capital investment and multi-stakeholder collaborations are critical for achieving net-zero goals. “The world will need an unprecedented amount of minerals in the decades to come to meet demanding yet necessary climate goals,” said Vivek Salgaocar, Founder of Prospect Innovation. “The mining industry will continue to play a pivotal role in supplying the materials that will enable a greener future, and Prospect is excited to continue its pioneering work, which will enable the industry to evolve through groundbreaking early-stage technologies, propelled by collaborations.”
The Sustainable Mining Challenge forges cross-industry partnerships to drive cutting-edge innovation for a low-carbon future.
The first Challenge calls for innovative technologies for energy-efficient mining across exploration, extraction, processing and refining, and valorization of mining residues. Startups within the mining industry or related sectors are invited to submit their innovations by May 29, 2024 on the UpLink Challenge Page.
Selected innovators will gain access to a global network committed to the expansion of purpose-driven startups. They will benefit from a range of support opportunities, including advisory services and potential financial assistance, within the innovation ecosystem. Through collaboration and innovation, the mining industry can accelerate the future of the energy transition.
