Innovation & Research Battlefield

– New Leaders – Fresh Ideas – Real-world Impact –

Sponsored by

Introducing a new and exciting event that occured at Mining Indaba in 2022 – the Innovation and Research Battlefield - a competitive 10-minute pitch platform for researchers, academia, students, and organisations to present innovative sustainable ideas to the mining industry.

The 2022 Challenge

Each year there is a new challenge for applicants to address. In 2022, we looked for innovative research proposals that offer an innovative solution to Building Sustainable Post-Mining Economies.

Every phase of a mine's life brings new opportunities and challenges to different sectors of society. It is in the interest of a country endowed with natural resources to maximise the investment of a mining company in order to generate income for the country and provide benefit to the communities that are proximate to the mineral deposit.

Complete rehabilitation of the mine site, leaving it in a safe and non-polluting condition, is critical to the local community. However, it is not just the environment that must be considered, but also the economic and social impact the mining company leaves when it closes.

One of the most important legacies a mining company can leave a community is a vibrant, sustainable post-mining economy. A mining company, in partnership with the government and community, can leverage the mine's investments to catalyse economic opportunities to create a sustainable local economy, beyond the life of the mine.

But how?

Why the 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 Innovation & Research Battlefield is a platform for the mining industry, academia, business, NGOs and young people who have a vested interest in sustainable mining for development solutions to come together.

Convened by the Development Partner Institute (DPI Mining), Business for Development (B4D), and Mining Indaba and modelled on the popular Mining Indaba Investment Battlefield, MIRB seeks to bridge a gap between great ideas and the resources needed to implement them.

Our goals:

Develop and test innovative solutions to tough sustainability and development challenges related to mining
Strengthen collaboration between the mining industry and academia
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.
Connect with organisations (academia, NGOs, businesses) that may have innovative ideas to achieve sustainable development outcomes
Increase the profile and contribution of research to good mining for sustainable development practice on the ground
Collaborate and create effective partnerships to solve existing and future sustainability problems