US-Sweden Mining Innovation Days 2023

Purpose and goal:

The project aimed to strengthen Swedish companies, organizations and research institutes´ knowledge of the US mining industry and opportunities for collaboration. This project served as a start of a long-term effort. Participating organizations gained insights into the mining industry in one of the US main mining clusters: Tucson, Arizona, but also high-level insights into the US mining industry as a whole.

Expected results and effects:

The USA-Sweden Mining Innovation Days 2023 created a platform for Swedish and US collaboration in the mining industry, with emphasis on innovation. The project helped to strengthen Swedish companies, organizations and research institutes´ knowledge of the US mining industry and its opportunities. The project and the joint development aimed to give Swedish small and medium-sized companies an accelerated entry into the US market through collaboration, which supports Sweden´s technology exports and contributes to improved sustainability in the mining sector globally.

Approach and implementation:

The project culminated in a three-day conference in Tucson, Arizona in October 2023. The two first days consisted of site visits to mining operators, and innovation thought leaders in the local mining ecosystem. The third day was a conference with both US and Swedish

stakeholders presenting their view on the mining industry with emphasis on sustainability and innovation. Prior to the conference, a pre-arrival program for SMEs was conducted where eight SMEs took part of tailored content about the US market, coaching and preparation for the trip.