Riyadh: On the sidelines of the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources Bandar Al-Khorayef honored the winning teams of the Global Mining Innovation Competition, Future Minerals Pioneers, following the conclusion of the in-person bootcamp.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Member, and Climate Envoy Adel Al-Jubeir; Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Eng. Khalid Almudaifer; Chief Executive Officer of the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) Eng. Jameel bin Ahmed Al-Ghamdi; Chief Human Resources Officer of Ma'aden, the principal partner, Assaf AlQuraishi; and Chief Executive Officer of ASAS, the sponsoring partner, Eng. Ahmed AlGhamdi.
In the Smart Technologies for Mining Operations and Services track, Team UnchartedAI from the Republic of India secured first place and received a USD 150,000 prize. In the Resource Sustainability in Mining Operations track, Team GeoVolt from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia claimed first place, while Team Omq, also from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, secured first place in the Safety and Security in Mining Operations track. Each first-place team received USD 150,000 in recognition of their innovative solutions that address sector challenges, enhance operational efficiency, and support sustainability.
Second-place awards were granted 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. Each second-place team received USD 60,000.
The winning teams were selected from 70 qualified teams following final project presentations evaluated by judging panels comprising 18 judges representing 16 local and international entities, with expertise in mining, technology, investment, and innovation. Projects were assessed against rigorous criteria, including innovation, impact, feasibility, and sustainability, to ensure the highest standards of governance and professionalism.
The competition attracted broad international participation, with 1,812 applicants forming 371 teams from 57 countries. From these, 70 teams comprising 356 participants advanced to the in-person bootcamp held in Riyadh from January 8 to 10, 2026. The bootcamp served as a pivotal milestone, enabling teams to refine their solutions and enhance readiness for real-world application within an intensive, collaborative environment supported by leading experts and specialists.
The Future Minerals Pioneers competition is organized by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in collaboration with the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP), under the Future Minerals Forum. The initiative aims to strengthen the mining innovation ecosystem, transform challenges into practical, high-impact solutions, enhance sector competitiveness, and support the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, while reinforcing the Kingdom's position as a global platform for innovation and dialogue on the future of mining and minerals.
