Diversified miner Rio Tinto is taking its innovation strategy directly to entrepreneurs, researchers and innovators at London Tech Week as it works to accelerate the breakthroughs needed to sustainably deliver the materials the world needs.

The only mining company at London Tech Week, Rio Tinto will lead discussions on how to meet the soaring global demand for critical minerals, deliver materials at scale more sustainably, and harness innovation to deliver the technologies of tomorrow, from AI to electrification to renewables. 

“Innovation is in our DNA. For over 150 years, Rio Tinto has operated at the intersection of mining and technology, and there has never been a time when innovation is needed more," says Rio Tinto chief innovation officer Dan Walker.

“As the world faces increasingly complex challenges, from climate change and urbanisation to the energy transition and electrification, meeting the world’s needs requires more materials, delivered faster, more sustainably, and with a lighter footprint at every step. 

“These are deeply complex issues that no organisation can solve alone. We want to find the very best innovators and entrepreneurs to join our global network of startups, universities, tech leaders and governments to help turn bold ideas into real-world solutions.”

Rio Tinto’s expanding innovation ecosystem includes its accelerator programme, run in partnership with early-stage investor Founders Factory, and its ventures fund, which support high-potential mining startups and sustainability. 

Last year, Rio Tinto also invested $150-million to launch the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, in collaboration with five world-leading universities, to advance transformational research to accelerate progress towards net zero. Led by Imperial College London, the academic partners include The University of British Columbia, Vancouver; the University of California, Berkeley; the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; and Tthe Australian National University, Canberra.