Second edition of Future Minerals Pioneers competition launched in Riyadh

The National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, announced on Sunday the launch of the second edition of the global minerals innovation competition, "Future Minerals Pioneers," under the umbrella of the International Mining Conference in Riyadh.

The competition aims to attract and develop innovative solutions to address priority challenges in the mining sector, improve operational efficiency, enhance sustainability, and accelerate the adoption of modern technologies. The initiative also seeks to empower both national and international talents to present practical solutions that support the sector’s competitiveness and future readiness.

Three main challenges and seven innovation tracks

The second edition features three main challenges: maximizing mineral recovery rates, circular and low-emission mining, and the transition to autonomous and smart mining. These challenges are divided into seven innovation tracks.

The competition is open to specialists, researchers, entrepreneurs, professionals, and students from inside and outside the Kingdom. NIDLP has invited those interested to register through the dedicated online platform for the competition.

Competition stages and partner support

The competition will progress through several stages, starting with a virtual bootcamp, followed by the announcement of the final accepted teams, then an in-person bootcamp, and culminating with the announcement and honoring of the winners at the closing ceremony during the sixth edition of the International Mining Conference, scheduled to be held in Riyadh in January 2027.

The second edition is supported by prominent partners, including the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) and the Saudi Mining Services Company (Esnad).

Ongoing efforts and expanding international participation

The organization of the competition is part of ongoing efforts to develop the mining innovation ecosystem and connect innovators with sector challenges, supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 to maximize the value of mineral resources and attract quality investments.

The first edition of the competition saw wide international participation, attracting 1,812 applicants forming 371 teams from 57 countries. Of these, 356 participants representing 70 teams from 32 countries qualified for the in-person bootcamp, reflecting the competition’s broad international reach.