Strong interest in seminars on AI, mining and future skills
News
On Tuesday 12 May, Swedish Metals & Minerals will arrange two seminars at Örebro University: AI in Mining: How can AI create value in the mining and metals industry? and Women in Mining: A conversation about technology, careers and lifelong learning. Interest has been strong, and both seminars are fully booked.
The seminars address two different, but closely connected, perspectives on the development of the mining industry. One focuses on how AI and digitalisation can create value in the mining and metals industry. The other highlights issues related to skills, leadership, inclusion and lifelong learning.
According to Lotta Sartz, who is organising the seminars, there is a clear common denominator.
“The common denominator is the role of people in the technological shift. Today, AI and digitalisation are not only about technology, but increasingly about people, organisations, ways of working and learning,” she says.
She believes that technological development and human perspectives need to go hand in hand in order to build a sustainable and innovative mining industry.
Meeting places that strengthen collaboration
The seminars are part of a growing effort to create meeting places where industry, academia, the public sector and wider society can come together around key issues for the future of mining.
AI in Mining and its sister event Mining@ORU, held at Örebro University in the spring and autumn respectively, have developed into established arenas for the mining ecosystem in Bergslagen and nationally.
“Innovation rarely happens in isolated environments. It requires networks, new perspectives and people finding each other,” says Lotta Sartz.
The events bring together participants from across the entire value chain – from mining companies and technology suppliers to researchers, students, public authorities and other societal actors. The aim is to contribute to new collaborations, research ideas and increased understanding of issues such as AI, sustainability, skills supply and the green transition.
Technology, people and learning in focus
Lotta Sartz sees the fact that both seminars were fully booked so quickly as a sign that these issues are highly relevant right now.
“AI and digitalisation are developing very quickly, and many people are trying to understand what this means in practice: how we learn new technology, how working life is changing and how organisations need to develop. At the same time, there is a strong need for conversations that are not only about technology, but also about people, culture and learning,” she says.
The programmes include technical presentations, concrete industry examples, live podcasts and conversations about the future of working life and skills. This breadth gives participants the opportunity to approach the topics from several perspectives.
Broad participation from several sectors
The participants represent a broad mix of organisations and activities. Those registered include representatives from industry, mining companies, mining technology companies, academia, public authorities, the public sector and smaller technology companies.
Women in Mining will also welcome many participants from networks connected to engineering students at Örebro University.
“This feels especially positive, as it creates opportunities for students to meet industry representatives, build networks and gain insight into future career paths in the mining and technology sector,” says Lotta Sartz.
More initiatives ahead
For those who were unable to secure a place at the seminars this time, there will be more opportunities. AI in Mining will return next spring, and this year’s Mining@ORU will be held at Örebro University on 29 September.
Mining@ORU takes a broader societal perspective on mining-related issues and brings together actors from industry, academia, the public sector and civil society. This year’s edition will also be a two-day event, with the seminar day followed by an industry bus tour visiting several companies and operations in the region.
The aim of the seminars is for participants to leave Örebro University with new perspectives, new contacts and inspiration to test new ideas in their own organisations.
“We hope that participants gain a better understanding of how technological development, sustainability and skills issues are connected, and of the role collaboration plays in the future of the mining industry,” says Lotta Sartz.