NRF and Mintek Host Session to Advance Their Innovation in Mining MoU

On 21 July 2025, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and Mintek convened a high-level brainstorming session for their recently signed strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed to foster innovation, scientific excellence, and sustainable progress in South Africa’s mining industry.

The teams engaged in an open discussion to explore practical ways to implement the areas of collaboration that benefit the mining sector through cross-sectoral research and innovation projects such as ICT, health, energy and water. This included existing NRF instruments that could be leveraged and new mechanisms that could be devised to better serve Mintek and other science councils.

The session featured presentations from both sides, with Mintek outlining its current programmes and strategic priorities, while the NRF highlighted the various forms of support it provides that align with Mintek’s business and research agenda.

Dr Zolani Dyosi, Senior Manager: Thematic Research Support and Advancement at the NRF, introduced the NRF team that comprised NRF managers of departments that support students, emerging researchers, established researchers as well as strategic instruments such as research Chairs and Centres of Excellence. Dr Pumza Zweni, Executive Manager of RDI Operational Services at Mintek, led a team of scientists in fields such as nanotechnology in health and digitisation and online environmental monitoring.

The NRF and Mintek signed the MoU at the end of May 2025, marking the formalisation of their commitment to the advancement of South Africa’s minerals processing, biotechnology, and cutting-edge smart mining technologies—which includes automation, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning—as well as the promotion of environmental sustainability. Key areas of focus for the partnership include advanced research in priority and emerging fields within the mining sector; enhancing human capital through collaborative training programs; scholarship opportunities; and mentorship support for students and early-career researchers in the mining industry.

Speaking at the brainstorming session, Dr Sepo Hachigonta, Director of Strategic Partnerships at the NRF, said, “Achieving the objectives of the MoU requires both institutions to slightly get out of our comfort zones and look at something that’s practical, something that can make an impact.”

“The MoU is a high-level agreement centred on the NRF and Mintek achieving impact as a collective. This is business unusual. From the NRF side, we know we don’t want to just end up with publications. Yes, that’s an add-on, but the focus is on building knowledge that leads to real impact and socio-economic advancement in South Africa.”

Said Dr Zweni, “The brainstorming session conversations have been quite fruitful. It’s quite warming to see that there is an appetite at the NRF to accommodate some of our requirements as they pertain to the students that we want at Master’s level as well as the postdocs.” In a session facilitated by Dr Dyosi, the workshop attendees identified an approach for future engagements between the two organisations on key areas identified in the MOU, including skills development, innovation for impact, intellectual property management, and science engagement. The next engagement phase is planned for working groups comprised of Mintek and NRF officials with the objective of proposing concepts that will lead to the development of an instrument aligned to the mandates of both the NRF and Mintek.