LTU Business takes a central role in a large EU project for sustainable mining

LTU Business together with several mining companies, equipment and system manufacturers and universities has started a new collaborative project, funded by the European Union. The project, which runs over three years and is called NEXGEN SIMS, will support the development of new technology, methods and processes that enable a more sustainable and efficient carbon-neutral mining operation.
– LTU Business takes a central role in a consortium and project that has the power to change the mining industry, says LTU Business CEO Gry Holmgren Hafskjold.

An important part of the project is to develop and test autonomous carbon-neutral mining processes. This includes the use of battery-electric mining equipment, full utilization of 5G for optimal connectivity and positioning, autonomous material handling, AI powered traffic and fleet control and collaboration among machines. The project is also focusing on the mine worker of the future – ‘the modern miner’ -and safety, for example by developing autonomous mine inspection technology.

Responsibility for communication, business development and education

LTU Business leads the project’s work package which deals with communication, business development and education.

– We are responsible for the project’s communication. This means that we shall show how the project supports the mining industry’s move towards becoming even more sustainable, safer and a more attractive workplace for future mining work. We will portray our world-leading mining environment and the project’s innovative power in many ways and in several relevant channels, including global events, film, animations and virtual reality experiences, says Niclas Dahlström, senior project manager at LTU Business.

– We will also be responsible for developing the business models of the future for the mining industry, with a focus on digitization and efficiency. We contribute with business development services to commercialize new products and services that will be important in the green transition, says Lisa Ek, strategy expert at LTU Business.

Part of a strong consortium

The project is coordinated by mining equipment and service supplier Epiroc and the other project partners consist of mining companies Boliden, Agnico Eagle Finland, KGHM Polska, K+S and OZ Minerals; services and system suppliers Ericsson, Mobilaris MCE, AFRY and KGHM Cuprum; business developer LTU Business and universities Luleå University of Technology and RWTH Aachen University – all based in Europe, except for OZ Minerals which is based in Australia.

– LTU Business takes a central role in a consortium and projects that have the power to change the mining industry. Now we start the work, says LTU Business CEO Gry Holmgren Hafskjold.

Builds on the SIMS project

NEXGEN SIMS builds on the successful H2020 EU-sponsored SIMS project, which ran between 2017 and 2020 and played an important role in advancing sustainable mining operations, partly through the use of battery-electric machines.

NEXGEN SIMS, Next Generation Carbon Neutral Pilots for Smart Intelligent Mining Systems, started May 1, 2021 and will run until April 30, 2024. The total budget for this project is EUR 16 million.

→ Watch a video trailer for the project.

→ Read more about the project at NEXGENSIMS.eu.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s research and innovation program Horizon 2020.