Advanced Mining Technology Institute AMT

On 18th and 19th June 2026, the MiningForum will once again take place at the Hotel Estrel Berlin, Berlin/Germany, and bring together leading experts, decision-makers and thought leaders from the German, European and international raw materials industry. As one of the most important networking platforms, the conference has been dedicated to the pressing challenges and opportunities of a sustainable raw materials supply for over 30 years.

With more than 50 specialist presentations, interactive discussion panels and a trade exhibition, MiningForum 2026 offers a 360° view of current developments in the industry. Under the motto “Raw Materials Momentum”, the MiningForum will highlight the crucial role of the raw materials sector for the diverse transformation tasks and far beyond. Raw materials form the foundation of our modern lives, from everyday products to high-tech innovations. MiningForum 2026 shows how the sector can fulfil its social mission efficiently, competitively and sustainably.

The event is characterised by a strategic partnership: Prof. Elisabeth Clausen, Head of the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) at RWTH Aachen University, Aachen/Germany, and Jens-Peter Lux, Managing Director of DMT GROUP, Essen/Germany, are combining their scientific and industrial expertise to provide important impetus for the industry with the MiningForum (Figure 1).

MiningForum 2026 offers a high-profile, international platform for dialogue between stakeholders from politics, business, science and civil society and provides impetus for innovative technologies, strategic partnerships and sustainable mining.

“The increasing uncertainty of global supply chains emphasises how urgently we need a resilient supply of raw materials. Only through sustainable strategies and innovative technologies can we create the basis for a stable and future-proof economy and society,” says Prof Clausen.

Cooperation between all relevant players is essential for the future of the raw materials sector. The cooperation with the AMT is an example of how industrial pragmatism, technological innovation and applied research can make a significant contribution to a secure and sustainable supply of raw materials.

“A secure and sustainable supply of raw materials can only be guaranteed through the interaction of industry, science, politics and civil society. Together, we must create suitable market mechanisms, drive innovation and develop sustainable solutions in order to successfully meet the challenges of the future,” explains Lux.

The conference offers participants an outstanding opportunity for knowledge exchange, an established platform for networking and for developing new partnerships to work together on the present and future of a resilient, reliable and sustainable supply of raw materials. (DMT/Si.)

HPM 2025 is a premier international platform that unites mine operators, technology providers, researchers, and policymakers from around the globe, dedicated to inspiring change and making the mine of the future tangible.

At HPM 2025, the programme is designed to spark thought-provoking discussions through keynotes, panel discussions, and collaborative presentations that explore cutting-edge advancements in the areas of mine automation, digitalisation, and electrification, all within the broader vision of a human-centred, climate-smart mine. Sessions will focus on an integrated approach that considers people, technology, and the environment as essential drivers of innovation and transformation.

Further information can be found on the event page

The 35th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Mining Professors will take place in Aachen, Germany, on September 04-10, 2025. The Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies at RWTH Aachen University, recognized for its excellence in applied research and innovation in underground automation and digitalization, will host this pivotal event.

–> Announcement Flyer as PDF

On 14th and 15th November 2017, experts of science and industry joined together with representatives of relevant associations in the Tivoli centre, Aachen/Germany, to discuss the latest on the digitalisation of mining. The Smart Mining Conference was organised by the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) of the RWTH Aachen University together with the Mining Association of the German Engineering Foundation (VDMA) and DMT GmbH & Co. KG.

This was the second event exploring the subject of mining in the era of Industry 4.0, and this time the 200-person capacity was filled. The organiser concluded that attendance was extremely high for all the presentations – a clear sign that the event is extremely topical.

Forum Bergbau 4.0 has been held every other year since 2015. The event is designed to facilitate conversation among key figures from industry, research and relevant associations, enabling them to exchange ideas on the growing use of digital technologies in mining. Digitalisation is considered at an international level and from a range of different perspectives.

This year, the 24 presentations looked at the cycle of data in mining and how it can be processed securely in the age of Industry 4.0: Topics included ruggedised sensors, i. e. which data can withstand the conditions of mines, how to process data securely in the big data era, and ensuring communication between machines is standardized and secure. The organisers set out to establish connections and raise awareness for the necessary interfaces. This is firstly because there is still a high degree of variation in terms of the technology available internationally, and secondly because mining operations cannot be automated until communication is standardised.

The mining industry is unanimous in its goal to realise a future of autonomous mining. The main benefits of this would be that humans need no longer work below ground in dangerous locations and the physical impact on mines would be significantly reduced – i. e. minimising the repercussions for people and the environment. These questions are also fundamentally important to the future existence of mining, e. g. in marine mining or extraterrestrial mining.

To make the forum more internationally accessible, the presentations on both days were conducted in German and in English. Guests and speakers from 16 different nations swapped notes on the latest developments in mining technology in their respective countries and made new contacts during the evening event. A major highlight of the forum was the opening address by Erich Schnake, Deputy Minister for Mining in the Republic of Chile. The German-Chilean Raw Materials Forum was held in the same conference centre shortly before, which meant Forum Bergbau 4.0 was able to secure a prestigious delegation of speakers from Chile.

Besides giving participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, Forum Bergbau 4.0 also sets out to promote and develop Germany’s international reputation as a leader in technological innovation (Figure 1).

All the organising parties deemed the event such a success that they are already discussing plans for the next Forum Bergbau 4.0 in 2019. These include the possibility of additional formats, such as a company-wide app contest. There are also plans to give young innovatives a platform to showcase the topic of innovation in mining. Other topics on the agenda include shared standards, IT security and legal questions surrounding data ownership.

In general, however, the organisers painted an extremely positive picture in their closing speech, describing those affected by digitalisation as significantly more responsive and embracing than they had been two years earlier. In short, digitalisation is now an everyday feature of the mining industry. (RWTH/Si.)