Mining Indaba 2025: An Opportunity To Promote And Celebrate Excellence In Innovation In The Mining Industry.
Acting Supervisor: Commercialization of Technological Innovation Organizations:
Mining has been the cornerstone of South Africa’s economy for more than a century and has made a significant contribution to GDP. The country is one of the world’s leading mineral producers, with a large amount of gold, platinum, diamonds and coal.
As delegates gathered in Cape Town for investment in the African Mining Indaba in February 2025, the Entity Technology Innovation Agency (TIA) of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) is showing our efforts to support innovation across South Africa, Especially in the mining value chain.
The 2021-2031 Decade of Science, Technology and Innovation Program focuses on modernizing the mining sector as one of its key priorities. This is crucial because mining, as well as manufacturing and agriculture, both contribute significantly to our GDP, exports and employment, but is currently facing a decline in productivity. Since mining is a priority subject area in the DSI decade program, TIA acts as an implementation agent to prioritize innovation, which will enhance the economic competitiveness of the South African mining sector.
TIA supports technology to sustainably improve process efficiency in extracting and developing natural resources while supporting efforts to reduce workers’ harms. Over the past decade, TIA has invested about R100 million in mining technology throughout the value chain. The investment supports 15 projects through various TIA funding tools and programs. Some of these projects are even commercialized globally and are producing royalties for TIA.
Our work also supports innovation in the fields of science, technology and innovation that is aligned with and aligned with the ambitions of the National Development Program for 2030. It focuses specifically on three areas to modernize mining: cutting and crushing, digitizing mines, and expanding its operating life.
As a driving force behind government policy innovation, TIA will strive to position the program as a fundamental framework for modernizing the mining industry through science, technology and innovation. TIA is working with mining and other funders to start an innovative program. The program will focus on developing and deploying technologies and innovations to address challenges facing the industry and using technology to address these challenges.
TIA plays a crucial role in supporting early innovation by providing venture capital for emerging technologies, especially in early innovation in the mining sector. In industries with high operating costs, new technologies often take significant risks, and early funding can develop novel solutions that can improve safety, efficiency and sustainability. Mining companies often face challenges such as resource depletion, environmental regulations, and the need to increase productivity, which are critical for long-term viability. TIA’s support helps reduce the development process, allowing companies to test and refine new technologies before scaling up, thereby increasing the likelihood of successful adoption. In addition, it encourages collaboration between research institutions, startups and mature players to drive growth and competitiveness within the industry while addressing key issues such as equipment wear, safety and environmental impact.
At Mining Indaba, we not only emphasize our financial and non-financially supported products, but also attract other investors to work with us. We will demonstrate our achievements in supporting mining innovation.
Our work acknowledges the need to support, leverage and coordinate existing programs such as SA Mining RDI strategies and other R&D programs. This includes working with OEMs for equipment manufacturing and focusing on minerals in materials such as titanium, aluminum and steel.
TIA focuses on innovations that enhance the economic competitiveness of South Africa’s mining industry, in line with the theme of this year’s mining Indiana: “Today, for the future of mining.”
- Daya Naidoo is the acting director: commercialization of the physical technology innovation organization of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
