Future Minerals Pioneers Winners Highlight Global Mining Innovation Achievements At Riyadh Forum

Future Minerals Pioneers, the Global Mining Innovation Competition held alongside the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, concluded with three teams taking first place across key tracks focused on smart technologies, sustainability, and safety, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s wider plans to expand mining innovation under Saudi Vision 2030.

Each winning team received USD 150,000 for solutions designed to tackle mining sector challenges, improve operational performance, and support long-term environmental responsibility, highlighting the competition’s focus on practical innovation that can be applied across global mining operations, including within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In the Smart Technologies for Mining Operations and Services track, Team UnchartedAI from the Republic of India secured first place, while Team GeoVolt from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took first place in the Resource Sustainability in Mining Operations track, and Team Omq, also from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led the Safety and Security in Mining Operations track.

Second-place awards, each worth USD 60,000, went to Team Groundbreak from Italy, Mexico, and Switzerland in the Smart Technologies track, Team NeoMining from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Russia in the Resource Sustainability track, and Team Ruwad Al-Salama from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Safety and Security track.

The Global Mining Innovation Competition drew 1,812 applicants who formed 371 teams across 57 countries, and from this pool, 70 teams, including 356 participants, advanced to the in-person bootcamp stage in Riyadh, indicating strong international interest in mining technology and innovation centred on the Kingdom.

Final judging followed project pitches by the shortlisted teams, with 18 judges drawn from 16 Saudi and international organisations, bringing expertise in mining, technology, investment, and innovation, and assessing entries through strict criteria covering innovation, expected impact, feasibility, and sustainability to maintain governance and professional standards.

Future Minerals Forum ceremony and Global Mining Innovation Competition partners

The award ceremony took place during the fifth Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, where Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef honoured the winning teams following the bootcamp, joined by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir, alongside senior industry and programme representatives.

The event also included Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Almudaifer, Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program Eng. Jameel bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi, Chief Human Resources Officer of Ma’aden Assaf AlQuraishi, and Chief Executive Officer of ASAS Eng. Ahmed AlGhamdi, reflecting broad institutional backing for the competition.

Future Minerals Pioneers bootcamp and mining innovation objectives

The in-person bootcamp, hosted in Riyadh from January 8 to 10, 2026, served as a key phase where participating teams refined their concepts, worked with experts, and increased readiness for real-world implementation through intensive workshops and mentoring focused on practical challenges faced by the mining sector.

Organised by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program under the umbrella of the Future Minerals Forum, Future Minerals Pioneers aims to support a stronger mining innovation ecosystem, improve sector competitiveness, generate high-impact solutions, and reinforce Saudi Arabia’s role as a global meeting point for discussions on the future of mining and minerals.

With inputs from SPA