The Saskatoon-based International Mineral Innovation Institute is looking for ideas to help the minerals industry operate sustainably. That’s what DEMOday is all about. The Institue has put out the call for innovative mining solutions and has a list of 42 innovation needs from BHP, Cameco, Fission Uranium, the Mosaic Company and Nutrien.

Executive Director Al Shpyth lists new anti-caking and/or dedusting chemicals for the potash or uranium sectors, something to help with corrosion mitigation for equipment, and heat recovery technology for energy efficiency among the requests. Selected applicants will pitch their innovations to teams of industry experts and then from that group an Innovation Award Winner will be chosen to receive funding and others may also apply to receive support to develop their projects.
Some of the previous year’s competitors have projects in the works.

Shpyth says right now, there are doing a trial of one of the technologies that came out of DEMOday at Nutrien’s Allan potash mine on a dust collection system to try to improve safety. The deadline for applications is February 23rd. DEMOday will be held in association with the annual Saskatchewan Mining Supply Chain Forum on April 16th in Saskatoon.