NORCAT, Rogers, Dell Technologies, OVIN and MICA launch the Mining Technology Innovation Challenge, powered by Rogers 5G, to accelerate the application of 5G in mining
Toronto, ON. NORCAT, the global leader in skilled labour training and development and innovation services, together with their technology partners, are excited to announce the launch of the Mining Technology Innovation Challenge, a Canada-wide competition for innovators to create 5G applications to enhance safety, productivity and operational improvements in the global mining industry.
As part of the challenge, innovative start-ups and entrepreneurs from across Canada will develop and test technologies on the Rogers 5G Wireless Private Network at the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence at the NORCAT Underground Centre in Sudbury, Ontario. These solutions, focused on safety, productivity, energy efficiency, and environmental impact, will also leverage edge technologies by Dell and ultra-fast speeds and ultra-low latency on the Rogers 5G network.
Partners of NORCAT supporting the Mining Technology Innovation Challenge include Rogers Communications (Rogers), a leading Canadian technology and media company, and the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN), in collaboration with The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) and Dell Technologies.
Applicants are asked to submit their proof-of-concept ideas by April 28th. On May 10th, finalists will be announced and invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, including leaders from Rogers, NORCAT and OVIN, as well as Dell, MICA, and leading Canadian mining companies, at a later date.
Winners will receive up to CAD $100,000 worth of support, including CAD $25,000 in funding to develop their proof-of-concept within the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence at the NORCAT Underground Centre for up to three months, with access to edge technologies by Dell as well as leverage the support of the OVIN Northern Regional Technology Development Site to commercialize their solution. Throughout the three-month development period, winners will receive up to 100 hours of direct support from challenge partners, industry experts, and engineers. Winners will be announced the first week of May.
"The Mining Technology Innovation Challenge is an incredible opportunity for start-ups, entrepreneurs and problem solvers to continue developing innovative technological solutions for the mining sector, while strengthening Ontario’s end-to-end supply chain," said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Create and Trade. " Ontario has everything companies need to grow and thrive, and we are excited to see the made-in-Ontario solutions that will be developed through this challenge."
"Ontario has world-class experts that are focused on the next generation of technologies that will move our mining sector forward," said George Pirie, Minister of Mines. "I look forward to seeing what the start-ups and entrepreneurs participating in the Mining Technology Innovation Challenge can contribute to the high-demand sectors like critical minerals development. I want to wish all the participants from Ontario good luck for the contest."
"As the global one-stop shop for all that is the future of mining technology and innovation, our goal is to inspire and enable disruptive and innovative thinking within the mining technology ecosystem," says Don Duval, NORCAT CEO. "As the global mining industry continues to evolve, we have found that increased levels of collaboration, including challenge-based initiatives, have proven to be successful in unearthing fresh ideas and diverse perspectives, and we are thrilled to partner with Rogers, Dell Technologies, OVIN and MICA to further the acceleration, adoption and deployment of emerging technologies that have the potential to revolutionize the global mining industry."
"We’re proud to play an essential role in advancing safety, productivity, and sustainability in the mining industry through the power of our ultra-fast, ultra-low latency network," said Tom Turner, President, Rogers Business. "Supporting the 5G developer community in Canada with access to technology, industry experts, and world-class 5G networks, is critical to advancing innovation and safety across the Canadian mining, construction, and industrial sectors."
"The Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network brings together stakeholders and solutions from a wide range of fields to make the mining sector more productive and sustainable," says Charles Nyabeze, Vice President of Business Development and Commercialization, MICA. "MICA is proud to partner on this challenge, which will help to accelerate 5G networks technology and commercial applications for the mining industry."
"We understand the power of industry collaboration to solve critical challenges and deliver innovative solutions," said David Trigg, vice president of telecom solutions, Dell Technologies Telecom Solutions Business. "We look forward to working with Rogers and MICA to address how the mining industry can use 5G and edge technologies to enhance safety, improve performance and boost productivity."
This project builds upon Rogers and NORCAT’s continued collaboration. In October 2022, Rogers announced a five-year strategic partnership with NORCAT to accelerate technology adoption in the global mining industry through the establishment of the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence at the NORCAT Underground Centre. As part of this investment, Rogers will be adding a new 5G cell site and uplift to an existing tower on its public tower to bring 5G coverage to the NORCAT Underground Centre, enabling NORCAT’s clients to develop, test and demonstrate scalable technologies, including tele-remote and autonomous operations, industrial IoT, asset tracking and drone mapping among many other use cases.
As part of its mandate, NORCAT continues to identify and engage with mining technology companies from around the world to support the development and adoption of innovative technologies poised to transform the global mining industry. By doing so, NORCAT helps to connect and broker relationships between mining technology companies (the "builders" of innovation) and global mining companies (the "buyers of innovation"), creating a vibrant tech ecosystem unique on a global stage.
For more information about the Mining Technology Innovation Challenge, please visit https://norcat.org/innovation/open-innovation/challenges/MINING-INNOVATION-CHALLENGE.html
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ABOUT NORCAT
One of NORCAT’s aspirational goals is to serve as the global one-stop-shop for all that is the future of mining technology and innovation. To deliver on this mandate, NORCAT owns the world’s only operating underground mine designed to enable start-ups, small and medium enterprises and international companies to develop, test and demonstrate emerging technologies that are poised to transform the global mining industry. To learn more about the NORCAT Underground Centre, visit https://www.norcat.org/underground-centre/
About Rogers Communications Inc
Rogers is a leading Canadian technology and media company that provides communications services and entertainment to consumers and businesses. Rogers shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit: www.rogers.com or http://investors.rogers.com.
About the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN)
OVIN is an initiative of the Government of Ontario, led by the Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI), designed to reinforce Ontario’s position as a North American leader in the automotive and mobility sector in areas such as connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and electric and low-carbon vehicle technologies. Through resources such as research and development (R&D) support, talent and skills development, technology acceleration, business and technical supports, and demonstration grounds, OVIN provides a competitive advantage to Ontario-made automotive and mobility technology companies and cluster.
ABOUT MICA
MICA is a national innovation ecosystem initiative designed to modernize mining and improve its productivity and environmental performance, strengthen the Canadian mineral supply chain, and increase the domestic and export sales of Canadian innovators
About Dell Technologies
Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry’s broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.
For more information, contact:
Cynthia Furlotte
Communications Lead, NORCAT
cfurlotte@norcat.org
705-521-8324