Betting Big on Mining Innovation: Highlights from the Antofagasta Minerals-MIT Symposium
Chile, September 16 2025 - Antofagasta is betting big on mining innovation. This summer, the company joined forces with MIT’s Industrial Liaison Program to host the third Antofagasta Minerals-MIT Symposium - a forum designed to anticipate industry challenges, co-create solutions and actively shape the future of mining. This year’s symposium spanned two themes, ‘New Technologies’ and ‘The Future of Work’.
The event featured leading academics from MIT who shared their insights from their latest research, challenging participants to rethink how emerging technologies and digital transformation could unlock innovation across the mining industry. Aurora Williams, Chile’s Minister of Mining underscored the urgency of this effort, calling for the decentralisation of knowledge and greater collaboration across industries.
MIT’s Co-Director of the Advanced Manufacturing & Design Programme, José Pacheco, discussed how advanced manufacturing, the use of sensors, and digital twins for process control are already boosting efficiency across mining operations in Chile, while Ben Armstrong, Co-Director of the Work of the Future initiative at the MIT Industrial Performance Centre turned the spotlight to people - exploring how technology is reshaping roles and skills in the mining sector.
The conversation extended beyond academia, with more than 10 technology companies highlighting how their solutions are transforming the mining sector and accelerating innovation across other industries.
POSITIONING CHILE AS A CATALYST FOR GLOBAL INNOVATION
This third edition of the symposium was designed to ignite meaningful dialogue and learning around leading innovation trends, building bridges between the local ecosystem and innovation network across Chile and the world.
One of the highlights of this edition was the strong presence of Chilean companies in the technology fair, a showcase designed to spark new partnerships and fuel the growth of the local tech sector. The turnout underscored Antofagasta’s commitment to nurturing homegrown innovation and positioning Chile as a hub for global mining innovation.
That ambition came through as Pablo Klein, Deputy Commercial Manager (Cuprochlor-T®) unveiled the company’s patented technology Cuprochlor-T®, a breakthrough process for leaching primary sulphides – one of the biggest technical challenges faced by the mining industry. Following a successful series of exploratory tests launched in 2024, the technology is now entering a second phase of trials with multiple partners, marking a significant step toward large-scale application.
COLLABORATIVE GROWTH
The symposium made one point clear: the future of mining will be built together. With voices from government, industry, suppliers, academia, and startups, the event was a blueprint for how collaboration can drive a more competitive, sustainable mining industry.
In the words of Antofagasta’s CEO, Iván Arriagada:
“We must build together a legacy of innovation that benefits not only the mining industry but also Chile and society as a whole.”
