NorrSpect "potentially groundbreaking for the mining industry globally" – wins innovation competition

In fierce competition, Norrspect wins the Innovation Idea Competition. The team receives SEK 600,000 and great opportunities to collaborate with players in the mining industry. A world of possibilities opens up, say founders Ulrik Söderström and Aman Malhotra.

The mining industry faces major challenges. From sustainable access to metals and minerals, optimizing processes, reducing environmental impact, finding value in mine waste, improving recycling and increasing safety as you dig ever deeper. On top of that, the industry also needs to become a more attractive place to work.

Swedish Mining Innovation , a national innovation program, organizes the Innovation Idea Competition every year, which aims to find innovations that improve mining operations in various ways. The winner receives SEK 600,000 to further develop their idea, and networking and collaboration opportunities with mining companies.

This year, 16 applications were received. The first jury meeting was held in Luleå during the Swedish Mining Innovation Research and Innovation Days in May. Eight ideas went on to the next step – pitch to the jury.

The incubator company NorrSpect , which is developing a new technology for automated quality inspection that can complement or replace manual inspection, submitted an application after tips from business developers at Uminova Innovation and Umeå University Holding.

On Friday, founders Ulrik Söderström and Aman Malhotra were chosen as one of two winning companies that, according to the jury, "stand out as potentially groundbreaking for the mining industry globally."

– It feels absolutely fantastic! We have pitched before, but not in front of a jury. We think it went really well, but since we have not worked with the mining sector before, we were unsure how our idea would be received, says Ulrik.

Aman agrees.

“We see countless opportunities. The mining industry already uses cameras for various purposes, and with so many cameras in place, the potential for our software is huge. Because our solution integrates seamlessly with existing camera systems, it opens up a world of possibilities. Winning gives us the means to actually take the plunge and work directly with the mining industry,” says Aman.

Lotta Sartz, chair of the jury and project manager, says that the competition was tough.

– The presentations were of exceptionally high quality this year, which made it difficult for the jury to rank the ideas.

The next step is clear for the Umeå duo.

“We want to start using the funding to develop more, talk to mining companies and see where our software can be used. We also want to understand where they would benefit most from using it. Then we want to start with a pilot and evaluate the results from that installation,” says Ulrik.

Erika Hedvall is the company's business developer at Uminova Innovation.

– NorrSpect is a very driven team with a focus on solving customers' challenges, so it's super cool that they win and are given the opportunity!

NorrSpect also receives support from Umeå University Holding.

Jury's motivation

“This idea is very interesting because it is a software tool that can be used with existing equipment. It enables the use of standard cameras for process analysis in mines, which positively impacts efficiency, safety, sustainability and environmental responsibility. It leverages technology and data-driven insights to create a more efficient and safer mining industry. The team is very driven and has innovative solutions that would be very valuable to the mining industry. They have experience working with large companies in the past but are new to the mining industry.”

About NorrSpect's innovation

Defects creeping into manufacturing is a widespread problem that often leads to wasted materials, increased costs, time-consuming rework and ultimately dissatisfied customers.

NorrSpect has combined a passion for new technology and efficiency improvements, with expertise in AI and machine learning to create software that helps ensure more efficient manufacturing processes.

The software is the result of research and tested in close collaboration with industry leaders.

AI algorithms oversee manufacturing with a precision that surpasses human capabilities. The customer can eliminate defects from the ground up and ensure that each product meets the highest possible quality standards.

The software is fast and saves customers time. It optimizes production processes, reduces time-to-market and improves operational efficiency.

The customer gains insights from data analysis – invaluable pieces of the puzzle in decision-making for process development.

The customer gets more satisfied end customers, which increases the chance of new business.

About Swedish Mining Innovation

A national strategic innovation program that aims to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of the Swedish mining and minerals industry. The program is funded by the Swedish state through Vinnova,

the Swedish Energy Agency and Formas, and works to promote research, development and innovation in the industry. By coordinating efforts and creating collaborations between companies, universities and research institutes, Swedish Mining Innovation strives to develop new technologies, methods and solutions that can contribute to a more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly mining industry.