BHP and Rio Tinto are committed to contributing to a more sustainable and safer mining industry. They want to enhance social value and minimize environmental impact by decreasing demand for water resources and limiting operational footprints. Their success will improve integrity and reduce risks associated with current tailings management solutions. As part of this mission, they are seeking to identify, promote development, and accelerate market availability of breakthrough innovations and technologies.
To achieve this, the miners are partnering with Fundacion Chile (FCH), which specializes in facilitating innovation partnering and multi-stakeholder coordination, to facilitate a “Tailings Technologies Open Call” process to identify such innovations and technologies.
The Tailings Technologies Open Call aims to identify and accelerate the market availability of innovative, holistic, and economically sustainable technologies for repurposing, dewatering, materials handling and stacking of mine tailings, to turn reduce potential safety risks associated with tailings facilities.
BHP and Rio Tinto are inviting global equipment and reagent suppliers, technology providers, start-up companies, and research groups who possess technologies which could contribute to this goal and may benefit from the assistance and support of the
miners.
Interested parties are invited to submit high level, non-confidential information about their technology via the Tailings Technologies Innovation Platform. FCH together with the miners will then evaluate the potential of al submissions considering the nature and maturity of the technology and the capabilities of the proponents.
Over time, BHP and Rio Tinto hope to identify a portfolio of high potential technologies and suitable partners with whom they can collaborate to help develop and accelerate market readiness and potential application at BHP and Rio Tinto operations.
BHP and Rio Tinto have already demonstrated significant interest and investment in developing non-conventional tailings solutions.
The miners wish to broaden their collaboration to help accelerate the maturing of other technologies and bring them to market readiness. By partnering with us, you wil potentially benefit from:
We understand that each technology and situation is unique, and as such our contributions will depend on the maturity and capabilities of your technology and needs. We are committed to fostering collaboration and joint publication, to further enhance the visibility of your technology and provide a pathway to your commercial success.
As a technology owner, you will retain ownership of your technology, and we will work together to determine the most appropriate intellectual property ownership/licensing expectations for any technology we develop together. Our goal is to support you in developing and demonstrating the capabilities of your technology, and to ensure you are fully prepared for market adoption, including at BHP and Rio Tinto Operations.
Please note that this process is not a competition, and we encourage all technology owners to participate regardless of the size or scope of their organization. While we may pursue several technologies identified through this process, we may also choose not to pursue any.
Our focus is on identifying and collaborating with technology owners who have a passion for innovation and a desire to make a positive impact in the mining industry. Join us on this exciting journey and help us shape the future of tailings management.
The miners seek technologies and solutions in the following domains:
Technologies of particular interest will be those which:
The Miners will not consider Technologies and solutions which:
BHP and Rio Tinto invite submissions from established companies, OEMs, start-ups, and research groups (including equipment and reagents suppliers). Applicants may be from the mining sector, but this is NOT a requirement as the miners are interested in investigating how technologies from other sectors may have potential application to tailings management.
What is critical is that applicants either own the technology or have the required rights to apply the technology to the mining sector.
expressions of interest open during specific periods of the year
one month after you send the expression of interest
three/four weeks after the reviewal of submissions
to be defined
La Corporación de Fomento de la Producción (CORFO) es un servicio público descentralizado, con patrimonio propio y personalidad jurídica, representado por su Vicepresidente Ejecutivo. Su labor se despliega a lo largo de todo Chile, impulsando el emprendimiento, la innovación y la competitividad, además de fortalecer el capital humano y las capacidades tecnológicas. Su propósito es promover una economía más sostenible, diversa y equitativa, generando oportunidades para personas y empresas, y contribuyendo al desarrollo productivo y al progreso integral del país.
EIT Climate-KIC es la principal agencia y comunidad de innovación climática de Europa. Utiliza un enfoque sistémico para impulsar la transformación hacia economías sostenibles, apoyando a ciudades, regiones, países e industrias en el cumplimiento de sus metas climáticas. Junto a una amplia red de socios globales, actúa para cerrar la brecha entre los compromisos y la realidad, facilitando la acción de tomadores de decisiones e inversionistas. Promueve soluciones integradas, moviliza financiamiento y desarrolla capacidades para acelerar el aprendizaje, la innovación y el cambio de mentalidades hacia un futuro resiliente.
ChileGlobal Ventures (CGV) es el área de emprendimiento, innovación e inversión de Fundación Chile. Su propósito es habilitar y fortalecer ecosistemas que impulsen soluciones de alto impacto frente a los grandes desafíos de la humanidad, promoviendo el desarrollo sostenible del país. A través del apoyo a startups, corporaciones y organizaciones públicas y privadas, CGV fomenta la adopción de innovación y tecnología como palancas clave para enfrentar el cambio climático, acelerar la transición justa, potenciar la competitividad y contribuir al desarrollo humano inclusivo y equitativo.
