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Disrupt Mining Challenge returns to Toronto for third year

The third annual #DisruptMining innovation challenge will take place on Sunday, March 3 during the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto.

The third annual #DisruptMining innovation challenge will take place on Sunday, March 3 during the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) conference in Toronto.

Technology disruptors vying for the opportunity to negotiate up to a $1 million investment from Goldcorp, the main sponsor of the event, will be notified December 10 if they make the cut.

Finalists will pitch their ideas to senior mining, technology and finance leaders in front of a live audience of 500 mining influencers and decision-makers at the Rebel Entertainment Complex.

The #DisruptMining innovation challenge encourages new ideas, identifies new opportunities and helps to accelerate the growth of new companies tackling challenges in the mining industry.

“The mining industry today is collaborating and investing in technology and innovation like never before,” said Todd White, executive vice-president and COO at Goldcorp. “We have digitized, automated and applied new technologies to various aspects of the mining life cycle, but our industry needs to accelerate the cycle of innovation even more to stay competitive, deliver greater value to shareholders and be best prepared for our future.

“Goldcorp is amongst the most innovative companies in the gold business, and we see #DisruptMining as a catalyst that helps us identify and champion new ideas, new partnerships, new technologies and new thinkers. At least seven of our #DisruptMining alumni have launched to new levels. We believe there are a lot more great ideas out there, and we’re ready to help make them happen.”

Following the 2018 #DisruptMining challenge, winner Acoustic Zoom, an advanced geophysics company specializing in innovative seismic solutions, secured a $1 million investment in its business from Goldcorp and launched a $150,000 pilot program at Goldcorp’s Red Lake Gold Mine in Ontario.

Other #DisruptMining alumni include Enviroleach, LlamaZoo, Open Mineral, Bio-Mine, Cementation, Goldspot Discoveries, KORE Geosystems and Tradewind Markets.

“DisruptMining was truly a catalyst for our business and put us on the world stage,” said Prof. Jacques Guigné, CEO, Acoustic Zoom. “We now have multiple international contracts with major mining companies and have accelerated the development of our technology with further innovations.”

#DisruptMining offers entrepreneurs a platform to bring disruptive technologies to the sector, whether it’s unlocking exploration opportunities; finding operational and production efficiencies; reducing the environmental footprint and delivering on sustainability commitments; or developing alternative ways to finance capital projects.