Over the one and a half day conference we will be delving into topics including:
- Key trends in innovation and the harnessing of 4IR and intelligent technologies in the design and use of mining equipment, in the SA mining industry
- Igniting innovation in South Africa - What does it take to be an innovator?
- How is the nature of innovation changing?
- Human skills for digital tech and people-centred technology
- Collaboration as a catalyst for innovation
- New ways to fund Research, Development and Innovation
- Agile SMEs at the edge of innovation
- Emerging technology requirements for a green energy future and zero harm
MEMSA is a member-based cluster, with member companies ranging from established OEMs with an international presence, to small and emerging enterprises, who manufacture a wide range of machinery, components, software and systems for mining.
It is our vision to position local mining equipment manufacturers as cost competitive and innovative, and preferred suppliers to local, regional and global markets. This may seem ambitious, but SA's long, rich mining history has provided fertile ground for the development of an innovative and agile mining equipment industry, with a great depth of expertise.
In the context of 4IR, collaboration is key, and MEMSA works with a wide range of partners to support innovation and technology development. These include the Mandela Mining Precinct, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Minerals Council of South Africa, the dtic, DSI, merSETA, universities, and research institutes.
The South African Minerals, Extraction, Research, Development and Innovation (SAMERDI) initiative, a unique collaboration between the mining industry and government, is the main sponsor of the Mind Shift Conference, and of MEMSA's Innovation for Mining and Manufacturing Excellence Awards in their second iteration.
In 2022 MEMSA held its inaugural Innovation for Mining Awards to celebrate local expertise in technological development, and the depth and calibre of companies and their innovations put forward over the past two years has been truly impressive. As Sietse van der Woude, Senior Executive: Modernisation and Safety, Minerals Council of South Africa said at last year's event, "it takes real bravery to be an entrepreneur and an innovator. Resilience seems to be most important and abundant characteristic of the people within the room'.
It is interesting to see the evolution of innovation in mining, and the increase in innovation centred around miner safety. 'As a country we have decided that it is not acceptable to have a single fatality in our mines'.
Mine safety does not happen by accident, it takes a concerted effort and commitment from the entire value chain and MEMSA members have risen to the challenge.
Last year's inaugural Mind Shift Conference was well received by the industry with an attendance of 153 delegates, including business owners and decision makers, speakers and panelists over the one and a half days - and we envisage a greater participation for this year. The feedback from last year's delegates was overwhelmingly positive; one participant reported, 'Words cannot describe the impact of this event'.
MEMSA plans on building on the strong points of the 2023 conference, while incorporating more interactive elements and to the extent that the venue allows, a small technology exhibition.
Mind Shift Conference 2024, an in-person event will accommodate between 150 and 180 participants, including MEMSA members and directors, speakers and panellists from academia and government agencies, and a wide scope of delegates from across the manufacturing, mining and associated industries. The conference will provide a platform for information sharing of new trends and developments in the local, regional and international mining industry, and will provide an opportunity for meaningful discussions on collaboration and cooperation across the industry with a view to inspire and guide us in our future endeavors.
