This is our last Innovation Idea Competition and your last chance to win!
Do you have an innovative idea that can make a difference and can strengthen the development of a sustainable mining industry? Then compete for SEK 600,000 in funding to realize your idea. Together we take it further, and make the industry and the world better!
In Swedish Mining Innovation’s annual Innovation Idea Competition we look for innovative ideas that can strengthen the Swedish mining industry. The competition is a unique opportunity to present your idea and thereby be given the opportunity to realize it. An expert jury chooses the eight most promising innovative ideas that gets to present at the Pitch event in Luleå, June 4th. The winner receives SEK 600 000 for the realization of their idea!
We welcome all kinds of innovative ideas that can contribute to sustainable mining. The idea can come from other sectors and thematic areas that can be applied in mining and metal production industries.
💡 Don’t get hung up on the idea that it has to be a technical solution!
⬛ Dare to think outside the box!
So start thinking now and submit your entry before April 25th!
Who can participate?
The competition is open to all Swedish SME:s (Small and medium-sized enterprises) who have an innovative idea for a more sustainable mining industry.
When and Where
The Innovation Idea Competition 2024 will be held as a physical event at Ljusgården, Aurorum 1C in Luleå, June 4th, 10.00-14.00 CET. The event will be held in English.
Program coming soon.
Important dates
25/4 Deadline for submitting your application.
16/5 Participants will be notified if they have made it to the pitch event on June 4.
4/6 Pitch event, Innovation Idea Competition 2024, Luleå.
14/6 The winner will be announced.
Assessment criteria
The jury will take into account the following criteria in its assessment.
- How the idea contributes to Swedish Mining Innovation’s vision and any of the program’s thematic areas in our Roadmap.
- Potential for development towards a commercial product/service or implementation in business
- Height of innovation and value-creating potential
- Opportunities for continued financing until the finished product or service
- The team behind the idea, and its composition
- Swedish Mining Innovation is looking for ideas that are at technical development level TRL 4-7.
How do I enter the competition?
Apply here by filling in the form:
Submit your innovative idea to: cathrine.svakko@swedishmininginnovation.se before April 25th!
Information about winning
- One or possibly two ideas will be named winners (SEK 600 000 for each winning idea)
- The winner/winners selected is entitled to funding if they meet Vinnova’s requirements. Innovation ideas that have already received funding from Vinnova are not eligible for funds
- Winners will have to submit a detailed project plan for how they intend to use the funding, as well as what activities they are planning for taking their innovation to the the next stage of development
- Only Swedish SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) are eligible for funding
Travel grant for finalists
Do you need a travel grant for your trip to the pitch event? Send an email to: cathrine.svakko@swedishmininginnovation.se before the event. Please note that it is not possible to apply for the travel grant after the event took place.
Do you want to participate as an audience?
The final of this year’s Innovation Idea Competition will be held at Ljusgården, Aurorum 1C in Luleå, June 4th, 2024. The event will be free of charge but registration is needed.
Program
10.00 Coffee and mingle
10.30 Welcome
Charlotte Andersson, Program Director & Niclas Dahlström, Senior Program Manager, Swedish Mining Innovation
10.35 Financing opportunities Swedish Mining Innovation, Metals & Minerals and Vinnova
Lawrence Hooey, Technology and Innovation Manager, Swedish Mining Innovation
10.50 Last year’s winners
MycoMine, Magnus Ivarsson
11.05 Introduktion of the Innovation Idea competition and the jury
Lotta Sartz, Senior Project Manager and Chairman of the jury, Swedish Mining Innovation Bergslagen
11.15 Four pitches
5 min/pitch, and 3 min/questions
12.00 Mingel lunch
Meet SME Network manager Erik Hagenrud and our PhD Student Network
13.00 Four pitches
5 min/pitch, and 3 min/questions
13.40 Swedish Mining Innovations SME network
Erik Hagenrud, SME Network Coordinator, Swedish Mining Innovation
13.50 International opportunities
Lawrence Hooey, Technology and Innovation Manager, Swedish Mining Innovation
13.55 Closing words
-14.00
Apply here by filling in the form:
Submit your innovative idea to: cathrine.svakko@swedishmininginnovation.se before April 25th!
The Jury of 2024
Lotta Sartz, Chairman of the jury.
I´ve been involved in the innovation idea competition before, but this is my first time as chairman of the jury, which I think is super exciting and I feel very honored. The Innovation Idea Competition is one of the program´s flagships, a real enabler for innovation that contributes to development of new technologies and new ways of thinking”.
- Lotta Sartz, Swedish Mining Innovation Bergslagen (Chairman of the jury)
- Théo Berthet, Business Development Manager, EIT Raw Materials
- Susanne Eriksson Rostmark, External FoI Collaboration manager, LKAB
- Katarina Öquist, R&D Manager Technology and Innovation Underground Division, Epiroc
- Lars Wallgren, Acting Environmental Manager and Development strategist, Kaunis Iron
- Anders Sand, Research Manager, Boliden Mines
- Keith Taylor, Global Program Manager, Business Sweden, USA
Everyone gets something out of participating!
Even if you do not win or reach the final, you will still get something out of participating in Swedish Mining Innovation’s Innovation idea competition!
All that have submitted an idea will be offered a follow-up meeting with Swedish Mining Innovation’s program office. At the meeting, we try to find new opportunities for development, collaborations and financing.