By Mintek
Mintek has been recognised by the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) for the impact of the Mintek Science Convention for Innovators (Mintek SCi), receiving an award that acknowledges the programme’s growing contribution to youth development, research advancement, and innovation within South Africa’s minerals and metallurgical sector.
More than a conference, Mintek SCi has evolved into a strategic platform designed to strengthen the future research and innovation pipeline of the minerals industry. The initiative creates meaningful opportunities for young researchers, students, and emerging professionals to engage with industry leaders, academic experts, and established scientists through research presentations, collaborative problem solving, mentorship, and technical dialogue.
Now in its third year, Mintek SCi has matured into an internationally recognised platform that actively bridges the gap between academia, research institutions, and industry. Its core purpose is not only to showcase research, but to cultivate capability, confidence, and collaboration among the next generation of scientists and innovators.
One of the programme’s distinguishing features is its deliberate focus on intergenerational and cross institutional engagement. Young researchers are given direct access to experienced researchers, technical specialists, and industry professionals, enabling them to test ideas, receive feedback, build networks, and gain exposure to real industry challenges and expectations. This exchange is central to the programme’s long term developmental impact.
The initiative is also intentionally structured to support participants at different stages of their academic and professional journeys. Through the annual GradHackathon, undergraduate and postgraduate students from universities across South Africa are challenged to develop practical and innovative solutions to real world minerals sector problems. The competition encourages multidisciplinary thinking, teamwork, innovation under pressure, and application of scientific knowledge to operational and societal challenges facing the sector.
The symposium component of Mintek SCi, meanwhile, provides honours, master’s, doctoral, and early career researchers with a professional platform to present their work through oral and poster presentations. For many participants, this represents their first opportunity to present research before an audience of peers, academics, and industry professionals. Beyond building technical communication skills, the symposium exposes participants to emerging research areas, industry trends, and potential collaboration opportunities.
The recognition from SAIMM reflects more than the success of a single event. It highlights the importance of sustained investment in programmes that develop technical talent, strengthen research capability, and create pathways for young people to contribute meaningfully to the future of the minerals sector.
The recognition also reinforces the broader importance of creating platforms where young researchers are not passive participants, but active contributors to conversations about the future of mining, sustainability, critical minerals, energy, and emerging technologies.
Mintek SCi 2026 will take place at Mintek on 1 and 2 October 2026. A call for abstracts has already been issued, inviting contributions across topics including critical minerals, sustainability, energy, digital innovation, and emerging technologies. The GradHackathon will also return as a multistage innovation competition focused on developing practical solutions to challenges facing the minerals sector and society more broadly.
Source: Novus Group – Press Bulletin
