NORCAT, MICA, Rogers, Dell Technologies, OVIN and OCI are inviting Canadian organizations to pitch, build, and test a proof of concept using Rogers Wireless Private Network, edge technologies by Dell, and the NORCAT Underground Centre test bed to accelerate innovation in the mining sector. Join the Challenge, today!
Mining Technology Innovation Challenge
Applications close April 28th, 2023.
Dedicated Wireless Private Networks and Multi-Access Edge Computing are transforming our industry. Their enhanced coverage, ultra-low latency, and critical connectivity will enable new opportunities for services and technologies in the mining sector never before seen possible.
NORCAT, MICA, Rogers, Dell Technologies, OVIN and OCI welcome organizations that operate in Canada to submit how they might use the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence at the NORCAT Underground Centre in Sudbury, ON for an innovative application which leverages multi-access edge computing, ultra-low latency, and critical connectivity that would enhance their mining technology business in the areas of productivity, energy efficiency, environmental impact, safety and/or automation, and could be demoed within a 3-month period.
Participants must outline how they might use the characteristics offered by the Rogers Wireless Private Network and edge technologies by Dell for critical connectivity and ultra-low latency.
Ideas can be enhancements to existing products/services or new products/services and should be demonstrable within a 3-month period at the NORCAT Underground Centre in Sudbury, ON. End-user devices for use cases must be SIM-enabled devices.
Finalists will take part in a pitching session and selected winners will get to test their mining technology innovation at the Rogers Technology Centre of Excellence within the NORCAT Underground Centre in Sudbury, ON.
Interested? Register now or download the full Challenge Statement!
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 must agree to the terms and conditions applicable to the various service providers in order to participate in the proof-of-concept.
Challenge Webinar: April 11, 2023
Join the webinar here.
Deadline to Submit Applications: April 28, 2023
Finalists Announced: May 10, 2023
Finalists Pitch to Judges (Hybrid Event): May 30, 2023 (week of)
FPOC Planning and Development: June 1 – Aug 31, 2023
Selected ventures will be invited to participate in a web-meeting with MICA, NORCAT, Rogers and Dell Technologies representatives to better understand the proposed solution and address any questions related to the requirements of the Proof-of-Concept.
"The challenge under the Open Innovation Platform hosted by NORCAT in partnership with Vale has been very valuable for us. On the one hand, due to the depth of the problem posed, that is, not technically trivial and at the same time with great potential to be replicable far beyond the specific case. NORCAT has played a fundamental role in managing the relationship. It has helped a lot in defining the common path between Vale and SK Godelius. This involves dealing with multiple dimensions, operational, innovation and engineering, which often have different urgencies and priorities. This has been especially important in times of pandemic, where an important part of the interaction has had to be virtual. In short, NORCAT has made a decisive contribution to the viability of our project."
- Fernando Bracco, CEO and Founder, SK Godelius
