- • This instance seeks to transform the industry through technological solutions.
"I’d definitely recommend it. It's a great opportunity to raise awareness of innovative projects, generate strategic connections and validate solutions with key industry players.The exposure and the recognition it provides are fundamental for driving new technologies in mining, and in our case, allowed us to show the potential of automation with renewable energies in leaching processes," said Belén Núñez, head of project management at Cobra Ingeniería y Automatización, winner of the 2024 version of EXPONOR's Launch Your Innovation.
In parallel, Matías Iraria from WM Technologies SPA, which won second place in the aforementioned EXPONOR contest with its innovation "Magic Filter CO2", a filter that removes polluting gases from any vehicle, also recommended joining the initiative."They provide great support, both in disseminating your innovations, as well as in generating a network of contacts, with the Launch participants themselves and with EXPONOR participants."
Experience
For Belén Núñez, a metallurgist civil engineer from Chuquicamata, the experience was very enriching."We’re proud to have presented our project and to have received first place in such an important event for the mining industry, which reflects the great work of our team. Launch Your Innovation allowed us to showcase the effort and innovation behind our work, making us visible to companies and industry experts. In addition, as a local company, it was an honour to participate in an event of this size in our own region and demonstrate that high-impact solutions for mining are also developed here."
For his part, Iraria stated that the experience was very satisfactory, considering that they had also participated in 2019."We were able to show the world our technologies, which at the time helped to prospect international markets, and today with this technology we have several contracts abroad, with over 144 operations worldwide."
Awards
Regarding the awards they won in the latest version of Launch Your Innovation, Belén Núñez explained that they will use it to continue perfecting their system, by "incorporating a new measurement variable into the project's control system. This will allow us to further optimise automated irrigation in the leach pads, improving operational efficiency and strengthening the sustainable approach of our solution."
Meanwhile, Matías Iraria said that their idea is to prospect new markets, which they have visited, such as Brazil.
Launch Your Innovation
The EXPONOR contest is directly related to the exhibition’s strategic guidelines. The Launch Your Innovation contest is a call for entrepreneurs and emerging companies in the country's mining and energy sector, who seek to transform the industry through innovative technological solutions, connecting the demands of the mining, industrial and energy market with the technology and innovation being developed in Chile. In its 2024 version, this initiative brought together 30 innovators.
In this context, it is important to mention that the EXPONOR stand booking process will open in April of this year. Subsequently, in the second semester, those interested in participating in Launch Your Innovation will be able to register for this traditional contest.
To date, the strategic partners of EXPONOR 2026 are Antofagasta Minerals, Escondida | BHP, Pampa Norte and Freeport-McMoRan Inc. Meanwhile, InvestChile, Prochile, and Consejo Minero, in addition to the ministries of Economy and Mining, are already present as sponsors.
