The MineTech Hub, one of 10 sector specific pan-African innovation and acceleration hubs set up across the continent under the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) timbuktoo Initiative, has opened its doors in Zambia.
The MineTech Hub, which will also run an accelerator programme, becomes the first of its kind on the continent with a focus on reimagining the mining industry, and will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of technology to optimise mining operations, improve safety standards, and minimise environmental impact.
Hosted at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) and set against the backdrop of 100 years of copper mining in Zambia, the new hub sets the stage for a new era of innovation and sustainable technological advancements in the mining sector.
According to Natalie Jabangwe, executive secretary of timbuktoo Africa Innovation Foundation, the MineTech Hub is more than a physical structure but a space for reimagining mining from a lens never used before.
“We are not merely breaking ground on a physical structure; we are igniting a movement that aligns innovation with opportunity. The establishment of this hub symbolises our collective commitment to transforming the youth of Africa into empowered innovators poised to revolutionise our mining sector and beyond,” she said/
“Our initiative seeks to create an enabling environment for innovation and technology uptake, particularly in the mining industry. Over the next decade, we are committed to investing US$1 billion to support startup ecosystems across Africa.”
