Riyadh is set to host the in-person bootcamp for the inaugural Global Minerals Innovation Competition, titled ‘Future Minerals Pioneers’. aiming to empower the mining sector as a strategic pillar of Saudi Vision 2030.
Future Minerals Pioneers event is organized by the National Industrial Development and Logistics Program (NIDLP) in partnership with the ministry and Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maaden).
The in-person bootcamp will be held from January 8 to 10, 2026, bringing together qualified teams from Saudi Arabia and more than 30 nationalities. The event is held under the patronage of the Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar Alkhorayef, and led by Vice Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Mining Affairs Engineer Khalid bin Saleh Al-Mudaifer.
The competition represents the final phase of a journey that began last October with a nationwide talent tour sponsored by Saudi Mining Services Company (ESNAD), which covered all regions of the Kingdom to identify top innovators. Winners and partners will be honored during the fifth edition of the Future Minerals Forum on January 14, 2026.
The Future Minerals Pioneers program comes as Saudi Arabia’s mining sector undergoes a major transformation, supported by a clear strategic vision and an attractive regulatory environment. According to the 2024 Fraser Institute report, the Kingdom made one of the decade’s biggest advances, rising from 104th to 23rd in the Mining Investment Attractiveness Index, alongside significant gains in policy perception and geological potential rankings.
These indicators support national efforts to maximize the Kingdom’s mineral wealth, estimated at $2.56 trillion (SAR 9.4 trillion), driven by the General Geological Survey Program. So far, 65 percent of the first phase has been completed across the Arabian Shield, enhancing data accuracy to stimulate investment and boost global competitiveness.
The Future Minerals Pioneers competition focuses on three tracks:
Smart technologies
Security and safety
Resource sustainability
It is aimed at developing practical solutions across the mining value chain and building a strong innovation ecosystem. Since its launch, it has attracted 1,812 applicants forming 371 teams from 57 countries, with 70 teams qualifying for the final stage.
The bootcamp offers an intensive environment of workshops, mentoring, and solution development, preparing teams for final presentations and the announcement of winners at the Future Minerals Forum.
