Swedish Mining Innovation, Innovation Idea Competition 2024

Purpose and goal:

The aim is to strengthen the innovation power within our Swedish mining cluster by encouraging SMEs to actively participate in SIP SMI (primarily via SMIs SME-network) and to broaden SMIs SME-network by being an attractive and inclusive meeting place. Increase awareness of the benefits of inclusive innovation among the applicants, work for increased understanding of an international market and its actors.

Offer follow-up meetings to all those who submitted competition entries to see how SMI or another actor in the cluster can advice, support or take their innovative ideas further. Expected results and effects:

Through the event have encouraged active participation in SIP SMI and broadened SMIs SME-network by being an inclusive meeting place between SMEs and larger companies. Increased awareness of the benefits of inclusive innovation among the applicants as well as an increased understanding of an international market and its actors. Identified project ideas that have contributed to increased innovation capacity within the mining cluster and enabled supporting activities for all those who submitted applications for the competition.

Approach and implementation:

Identify and invite Swedish SMEs to this year´s Idea competition via SMI´s channels/networks. Submitted proposals are reviewed by a jury of industry representatives. The jury selects eight companies that get to present their idea at a pitch event and based on that, one or two winners are selected.

The winning contribution gets the opportunity to apply for a project to realize their idea. The event will take place during Q2 2024. Follow-up discussions are offered to those who have submitted an innovation idea. Further strengthening activities may be planned with SMIs SME-network.