Tantay Atacama Program: 3 Ventures to Solve Mining Companys Challenges
The selected startups will begin the process of piloting their technological solutions in response to the innovation challenges presented by Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP), within the framework of the Tantay Atacama Program.
The startups SmartMining, EMMA Energy and RedBrayn were selected in the “Demo Day: Event for the Selection of Solutions to the Innovation Challenges presented by Compañía Minera del Pacífico (CMP)”, as part of the Tantay Atacama Program.
These three startups will begin their piloting process at CMP’s sites, and will also receive technical support, mentoring and financing of up to $15 million, representing a significant step towards their consolidation and contribution to the development of the regional mining industry.
After a rigorous process of pre-selection and maturation of proposals, the winning startups achieved the best evaluations of their pitch by the jury composed of representatives of Tantay Atacama, CMP and Centro Nacional de Pilotaje (CNP).
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The event, held at the Hotel Antay in Copiapó, is part of the program developed by the Federico Santa María Technical University (USM) through its 3IE Institute and Widegroup, with the support of the Innovation Fund for Competitiveness of the Regional Government of Atacama.
SELECTION OF THE WINNERS
The purpose of the “Demo Day” was to select the startups that sought to solve the innovation challenges posed by CMP, which were presented in December 2023, after which, 5 companies in total were shortlisted.
The event featured SmartMining, EMMA Energy, X-Analytic, RedBrayn and Bruna, companies that offer solutions to address crucial areas such as energy efficiency, resource management, operational optimization, predictive maintenance, technology integration and environmental sustainability.
Gonzalo Sanhueza, head of the Development and Industry Division of the Regional Government of Atacama, said that “we are analyzing a perspective within this work structure, which is to be able to deliver innovative solutions to the development of mining, in the case of Compañía Minera del Pacífico today. Company that established a need in its production. For this reason, today we understand that these solutions bring the key that allows us to establish a better quality and better productive development, consequently, a better development in the quality of life of the inhabitants of our region.”
Meanwhile, Werner Kristjanpoller, director of the 3IE Institute, stressed that “for more than a year we have been working on this project promoted by the Regional Government through the Federico Santa María Technical University and its 3IE Institute“.
He added that, “GORE trusted us, in the experience we have developing open innovation projects and in the fact that we can contact entrepreneurs with different networks. That way, we are happy to be involved with the public side, such as GORE, and the private side, such as CMP and entrepreneurs.”
Claudia Monreal, CMP’s Planning and Development Manager, reflected that “the creation of alliances is the way to move into the future. Mining is no longer an island, least of all Compañía Minera del Pacífico, since we have always been very close to the communities. Today, I am full of expectations because I believe that this has enormous potential, not only to solve our problems, but we believe that we can help propose challenges for the territory, support so that those challenges are executed and make the territory emerge.”
11 startups y 8 compañías mineras trabajan en la primera vitrina de innovación de Tantay Atacama
In this regard, Monreal added that “it was difficult for us to decide and, in the end, we went out of protocol because we want to try everything. We hope they do well and that we can accompany them in the best way.”
“We have a very important focus on the operation, so we want them to feel accompanied in this process so that we can guide them and that they can work on our processes in a happy way. That is fundamental,” he said.
María Luisa Lozano, CEO and founder of Emma Energy, shared her enthusiasm, as “CMP was able to see the potential of our solution applied to other areas of its processes and to other plants at its sites. We’re going to have the opportunity to really make efficient use of energy in various operations and figure out where we can have the biggest impact. That was one of the motivations for applying for these challenges with Tantay Atacama, because it’s not just about winning a check, it’s also about doing a pilot.”
He added that, “In this way, we will have the opportunity to test the solution, that the company will be able to see the results and thus decide whether to implement it permanently. And I value that very much.”