Zambia Unveils 10 MineTech Hub Innovators, Leading the Future of Mining in Africa
Lusaka, Zambia – June 2025 The timbuktoo MineTech Hub today marked a major milestone with the unveiling of ten cutting-edge mining technology startups that will drive Zambia — and Africa — into the future of sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-led mining.
Hosted at the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR) in Lusaka, the event celebrated the success of a unique partnership among the Government of Zambia, UNDP, and key innovation ecosystem players. These ten startups were selected from a rigorous pan-African innovation challenge and will now be incubated at the MineTech Hub to develop transformative solutions addressing real-world challenges in the mining sector.
A Partnership Driving Progress
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Honourable Minister of Technology and Science, Mr. Felix Mutati commended the strength of collaboration that has made the MineTech Hub a reality. “This is not just a milestone for Zambia, but for Africa,” he said. “Through the Minetech, the solutions to the problems we face in mining, are not going to be imported but they are going to originate from here in Africa for Africa to change Africa.”
The MineTech Hub is a flagship initiative under the timbuktoo innovation ecosystem, which brings together academia, the private sector, development partners, and government to support startups tackling development challenges. In Zambia, the Hub focuses on mining — a sector central to the country’s economy and Africa’s transition toward greener, more inclusive industrialisation.
Zambia at the Forefront of Innovation
Zambia’s leadership in hosting the first MineTech Hub positions the country as a pioneer in mining innovation on the continent. The Hub is not only a platform for startup acceleration but also a strategic engine to attract investment, generate high-tech jobs, and enhance sustainable mining practices. “This Hub is more than just a building. It is a commitment. Our collective commitment to innovation, to sustainability, and to our young people who will lead us into “Mining for Tomorrow,” said Mr. Mattias Naab, Director at UNDP’s Regional Service Centre for Africa.
Under the theme, Mining for Tomorrow: Unveiling the Next Generation of Trailblazers, the Hub is at the forefront of technological transformation where data, robotics, artificial intelligence, and sustainable practices are not just buzzwords, but essential tools for progress” said Mr. Naab.
These trailblazers have not merely adopted technology; they are creating it. They’ve envisioned a mining ecosystem where operations are remotely managed, where environmental impact is minimised through precision mining, and where worker safety is paramount, enhanced by intelligent systems. They are driven by a profound understanding that technology is not just an enabler, but the very engine of sustainable and profitable mining.
The 10 Startups
The unveiling is just the beginning. The selected innovators are developing solutions in areas such as mineral traceability, green energy for mining operations, safety and health monitoring, AI-powered resource mapping, and environmental restoration technologies. These startups will receive technical mentorship, seed funding, and access to Zambia’s mining networks over the next 12 months.
Looking Ahead
And speaking at the same event, Ms Beatrice Mutali, UN Resident Coordinator for Zambia said, “These startups are not just solving problems of today; they are creating the future of mining, one that is automated, data-driven, low-impact, and above all, human-centred.” The Resident Coordinator called on the private sector to partner in shaping a smarter, greener African mining future.
Delivering a Vote of Thanks on behalf of the premiere cohort, Grace Akinyi shared that, “this MineTech Accelerator Program did more than support startups it recognised something many overlook: that mining is not just a legacy sector; it is a frontier of innovation.”
The MineTech Hub aims to be a magnet for talent and investment, not just from Zambia, but from across Africa and the globe. As the continent faces increasing pressure to modernize its mining industry, Zambia is offering a compelling blueprint for how innovation, collaboration, and youth engagement can unlock inclusive growth.
With Africa holding over 30% of the world’s mineral wealth, yet so much of it is extracted without benefit remaining in the communities that bear it, Sinazo Charlotte Sibisi, Chief Investment Officer at the timbuktoo Foundation, pointed out to the Innovators that, “You are not just engineers of technology, you are architects of impact.”
Mercy Khozi, Communication Analyst, UNDP Zambia, mercy.khozi@undp.org
Salome Nakazwe, Head of Solutions Mapping, UNDP Accelerator Lab in Zambia, salome.nakazwe@undp.org
Source:UNDP
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