Tech startups win Sweden Mining Innovation competition

Radchat and Flasheye have been awarded €112,500 after winning the finals of Swedish Mining Innovation’s annual idea competition that recently took place at Euromine Expo.

Both start-ups were commended for their novel thinking around the sustainable mine of the future, and how technology can make mines safer work environments. The winners receive SEK600,000 (€56,275) each to develop their ideas.

With the help of radar and sensor technology, Radchat offers high precision positioning, ultimately to eliminate accidents, while Flasheye uses 3D technology to detect and prevent faults and accidents.

Ida Rehnström, COO Flasheye, said: "Winning this award is a testimony that it is doing the right thing at the right time. The prize money enables us to proceed with IP and product development. We have high ambitions and are planning to scale globally from the start."

Lukas Crisp, CEO and co-founder of Radchat, was thrilled to succeed against ambitious and innovative companies. "Now we look forward to taking the next step together with industry partners," he said.

Everyone who participated in the competition will receive help from Swedish Mining Innovation in finding ways to take their idea further, for example through the program's open call or directly with an industrial company.

Matz Sandström, Swedish Mining innovation and chairman of the jury, was impressed by the variety and level of the competition entries.

"The ideas presented are ambitious and offer solutions to some of the needs and challenges that our global society faces when it comes to a sustainable supply of raw materials."

The competition is organised by Swedish Mining Innovation, the national strategic innovation programme for the mining and metal producing industry, funded by the Swedish Government through agencies Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency.