• Mining Lab

    Beginnings

    Registration extended until April 29nd!

 

The Mining Lab Beginnings program is the latest addition to Nexa Resources' open innovation platform, featuring medium-term challenges and seeking solutions that do not necessarily require a high level of maturity.

 

The focus is on conducting conceptual R&D of an innovative idea, promoting joint development and the opportunity for proposers to connect directly with industry.

The Mining Lab Beginnings program seeks researchers from universities, entrepreneurs, startups, and companies who can propose and implement solutions to the launched challenges.


In this 4th edition, the program has four challenges on the circular economy and decarbonization fronts.

Interested parties can apply for the following options:

i) Technological: aimed at applicants who wish to dedicate their efforts to the technical part of the solution without the desire to become an entrepreneur.

ii) Entrepreneurial: option for proposers who, in addition to developing solutions, want to become entrepreneurs or for established companies/startups that want to connect with NEXA and/or develop a new product.

Apply now

Challenges

Discover the challenges of the fourth edition of the program

The Aripuanã plant processes zinc, copper and lead concentrates. From these processes, three types of tailings are formed: the first is rich in talc, the second is obtained during the flotation of zinc and is rich in quartz, and the third tailing, a combination of all the waste from the process, is rich in silicon dioxide.

In line with environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives, this challenge consists of developing new treatment routes or commercial/industrial applications using these tailings.

Nexa's Cerro Lindo unit carries out mineral exploration and processing activities that generates waste with a high content of pyrite, silicate and, to a lesser extent, barite.

In line with environmental, social and governance (ESG) objectives, the challenge is developing commercial/industrial applications using this pyrite-rich tailings.

The zinc recovery process at Nexa's refineries has a pyrometallurgical stage called the Waelz process. In this process, the raw material containing zinc is fed with solid fuel, coarse coke, for heating and reduction reactions at temperatures close to 1100 °C. Coke provides part of the energy and carbon needed in the process.

The challenge is to develop new alternatives for the production of bio-briquettes to replace coke in the Waelz process.

At Nexa's plant, zinc oxide synthesis consists of volatilizing metallic zinc and oxidizing the vapours formed. This process takes place in crucible-type ovens. Currently, fossil fuels are mainly used to feed the flame. In order to make its energy matrix more flexible and aim to a more efficient, sustainable and safe operation, bio-oil is already being used in some furnaces.

The challenge regarding bio-oil involves developing solutions that reduce the corrosive effect of biofuel and allow the usage of equipment made of or lined with carbon steel.

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Timeline

All stages of the program will take place online, and communications will be conducted via the email provided at the time of registration.

Enrollment

March 14th - April 29th

  1. Selection I

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    The panel will evaluate the applications received and decide which will go on to the next step

  2. Interviews

    May 2024

    Individual meetings between proposers and Nexa team for a better understanding of the submitted proposal and to address any potential doubts

  3. Selection II

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    The panel will evaluate all interviews conducted, presentations given and materials submitted by the proposers, and will decide which will move on to the next stage

  4. Conceptual R&D

    June to November 2024

    The proposers will perform the tests and feasibility studies of the proposed solutions

  5. Selection III

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    The panel will evaluate all solutions and documents submitted and define the finalist bidders

  6. Demoday

    December 2024

    Event in which the proposers will present their solutions in front of a panel of Nexa executives.

Formalization

December 2024

Benefits

Photo: Hand with glove holding ore

Find out the benefits of participating in the Mining Lab Beginnings

Up to R$20,000.00 in the first phase for R&D and validation of the proposed idea

Scaling technologies at a low level of technological maturity with Nexa investment

Promotion of partnerships to co-develop new technologies/solutions with Nexa

Opportunity to join Nexa's group of suppliers and, potentially, other companies belonging to the Votorantim Group

Documents

Here you will find all the official program documents. Click on the side arrows to view them all and get all the information you need to register.

  • Regulation 2024

    Access the program's regulation here

    Download

  • Challenges 2024

    Learn more about the challenges

    Download

FAQ

The Mining Lab Beginnings is Nexa Resources' open innovation program that aims to seek technological solutions to the company's challenges that need to be scaled before implementation. These solutions can be of low maturity level and will be developed during the program.

The Program is divided into three macro stages: Prospecting Ideas, Conceptual R&D, and Demoday. Each stage contains activities and events that can be found in more details on the timeline.

This step consists of hiring the proposer to perform bench-scale tests to prove the technical feasibility of the proposed solution.

The program is open to members of educational and/or research institutions, startups and companies who wish to develop a solution to one of the proposed challenges.

Interested parties can apply in one of two ways:

i) Technological - aimed at applicants who wish to devote their efforts to the technical part of the solution, without the desire to become an entrepreneur.

ii) Entrepreneurial - for proposers who, in addition to developing the solutions, want to become entrepreneurs or for established companies/startups that whant to connect with NEXA and/or develop a new product.

Yes, you can apply for multiple challenges.

Possibility of reinvestment at the end of the program to scale up the technology and connect with the market (startup and/or technology transfer).

Please send an e-mail to [email protected] and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Apply now