HARARE – The United Nations Development Programme has invited young Zimbabwean innovators to develop artificial intelligence and other technology-driven solutions to problems facing the country’s mining industry, with 10 finalists set to receive funding and six months of incubation support.
The MineTech Innovation Challenge Zimbabwe 2026, being run in partnership with the government and Zimbabwe School of Mines, is targeting Zimbabwean innovators, entrepreneurs, researchers and start-ups under the age of 35.
Applications opened on Aug. 27, with the deadline extended to Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m.
Running under the theme “Harnessing AI, Digital Technologies and Innovation for Zimbabwe’s Critical Minerals Future,” the programme is seeking practical and scalable technologies that can improve productivity, safety and environmental sustainability across the mining value chain.
Proposed solutions can cover artificial intelligence and mine optimisation, mineral traceability, environmental sustainability, mine safety, artisanal and small-scale mining, drones and remote sensing, mineral beneficiation, community development and local manufacturing of mining technology.
Ten finalists will be selected for financial, technical and business development support.
They will participate in the MineTech Innovation Bootcamp and gain access to MineTech Hub facilities at the Zimbabwe School of Mines, as well as technical mentorship, assistance refining prototypes, investor-readiness training and business-model development.
The finalists will then undergo a six-month incubation programme during which they can refine and pilot their technologies and engage mining companies, investors, industry experts and government officials.
Organisers said the initiative was intended to bridge the gap between developing new technologies and bringing them to market.
Young women, people with disabilities, students, researchers and innovators from remote and underrepresented communities are being encouraged to participate.
Applications will be assessed on the mining problem being addressed, innovation and technical feasibility, prototype readiness, potential impact, scalability and prospects for commercialisation.
The organisers are also encouraging technologies targeting Zimbabwe’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector, particularly innovations capable of improving productivity, safety and livelihoods.
Applications close Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m. CAT.
