Advanced Orebody Knowledge Challenge underway
Johannesburg, xx August 2016: The Chamber of Mines of South Africa and The Innovation Hub,a subsidiary of the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), have signed an historic Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to jointly further advance orebody knowledge and understanding in the region. The Advanced Orebody Knowledge Challenge run through The Innovation Hub’s OpenIX open innovation exchange is looking for innovative solutions to ‘see through rock’. The ability to identify and understand the makeup and structure of orebodies is critical to the success of the mine of tomorrow.
The Innovation Hub is Africa’s first Science and Technology Park accredited by the International Association of Science Parks, and is focused on accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies, whilst addressing inclusivity, poverty alleviation and job creation. The Chamber of Mines is an industry association representing companies that make up around 90% of South Africa’s mineral production.
McLean Sibanda, CEO of The Innovation Hub, said, “Gauteng continues to play a critical role in South Africa’s mining sector and there is a significant opportunity to support innovation in related industries and growth of mining equipment manufacturing in the Province. Our OpenIX platform has been used by some of the country’s largest firms to accelerate their innovation process and we aim to do similar on this orebody knowledge challenge”
Roger Baxter, Chamber of Mines CEO notes that “Gauteng was built on mining and remains an important centre for the supply of mining services and equipment. This initiative will use state-of-the-art innovation tools and, through constructive partnerships, will ensure that mining will again deliver social and economic growth to Africa’s most powerful region. We are excited to use innovative platforms and tools to take this challenge to the best and brightest minds out there.”
The Innovation Hub’s OpenIX team is working in partnership with the Chamber of Mines and Research Institute for Innovation and Sustainability, a South African innovation consultancy, to run the challenge process and engage researchers and entrepreneurs on potential solutions to the challenge.
The challenge deadline is 30 September 2016 and proposals should be submitted via the OpenIX website: http://openix.theinnovationhub.com.
For further information please contact:
For the Innovation Hub:
Linah Nematandani, Communication and Marketing Manager
lnematandani@theinnovationhub.com
(+27) 12 844 0030 / (+27) 71 673 9964
Twitter: @InnovHub
Facebook: InnovhubZA
For the Chamber of Mines:
Memory Johnstone
Tel: +27 (0)11 880 3924 or Mobile: +27 (0)82 719 3081
Email: memory@rair.co.za
