As mining operations evolve, mine design must adapt to support new technologies, changing operating models, and long-term sustainability goals. This theme explores how mines are being designed, or redesigned to enable automation, zero-entry concepts, shared infrastructure, flexible processing, and safer, more efficient operations. Discussions will consider how design decisions made today can support innovation, scalability, and resilience tomorrow.

8:30 – 9:00 am
Welcome to the GMG Forum
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group

9:00 – 9:30 am
From Policy to Projects: Navigating EU Funding for Mining’s Green & Digital Transition
Mikael Ramström, Director, Digital Solutions Division, Epiroc
A practical tour of the EU funding landscape for mining innovation—what’s changing, where the real opportunities sit in 2026–2027, and how to turn policy priorities into fundable, compliant, outcome-driven collaboration projects.

9:30 – 10:00 am
Mine Design Is No Longer a Phase: From Static CAD Models to a
Continuous MineBIM System
Jyrki Salmi, Doctoral Researcher, and CEO, SalMine Group
Mining is rapidly moving toward automation, electrification and AI-driven operations, yet mine design practices remain largely fragmented and static. Traditional workflows based on disconnected CAD models, siloed planning tools and manual updates are no longer sufficient for increasingly complex and interconnected mining systems. This presentation introduces the MineBIM approach developed through ongoing doctoral research at the University of Oulu. The concept redefines mine design as a continuous, data-connected system rather than a one-time engineering phase. MineBIM integrates geometry, operational data, automation systems and behavioural models into a unified parametric framework capable of supporting real-time updates, scenario analysis and system-level optimization. The presentation explores how information-centric digital engineering can improve decision-making, reduce CAPEX and operational risk, accelerate design iteration cycles and enable future autonomous and zero-entry mining concepts. Practical examples demonstrate how parametric mine structures can connect design, scheduling and production data into a continuously evolving operational model. The session challenges the industry to rethink mine design not as static documentation, but as the operating system of the future mine.

10:00 – 10:30 am
The Rethink Mine Design Project
Ron Bose, Principal Engineer, XPS/Glencore; 
Cailli Knievel, Technical Lead-Underground Mining, AMC Consultants; &
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, GMG

11:00 – 12:00 pm
ReThinking the Mining Paradigm
Interactive Working Session
Deep dive into exploring the how we need to evolve the Mine Design and relevant operations to fully utilise zero entry operations, efficient energy utilisation, adaptability to geological, environmental, economic and political challenges. Input gathered during the session will feed directly into the white paper, which is targeted for publication in Q2 2026, and will help establish a knowledge library to support future GMG guidance on mine design.

Digital technologies, AI, and data integration are reshaping how mining decisions are made. This theme focuses on how mines are using data, analytics, simulation, and digital tools to improve performance, reliability, and safety while also addressing challenges such as interoperability, cybersecurity, and trust in data. The discussion will highlight practical applications and lessons learned from digital transformation initiatives.

1:00 – 1:30 pm
Information and Process Structures in Mining
Patrik Eklund, Professor in Computer Science, Umeå University &
Magnus Löfstrand, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Örebro University
Information and process structures, involving technology and finance in mining, support production monitoring, risk management, and maintenance procedures. Production monitoring ranges from ore body prospecting through drilling and blasting to beneficiation and all the way to transportation and delivery to customer, where the information along the entire process is required to be reinforced for production quality improvement purposes.  Information modelling in risk management typically involves content development support as based on nomenclature (ISO 31073:2022), where content elicited to decision-support makes use of general guideline development recommendations (ISO 31000:2018). In maintenance, with “mean time” concepts building upon the FMEA framework, an enriched Time Usage Model (TUM) provides sufficient structure to sideline appropriately e.g. with SysML’s State Machine model, also for maintenance activity capture, as indicated in GMG’s TUM for surface mining. In general, accurate and rich information modelling enables results and conclusions, from information analysis based on probability theory and fuzzy logic, to become integrated also with business processes typically making use of OMG’s BPMN standard.

1:30 – 2:00 pm
Forward-looking R&D in Finland
Janne Kari, Head of Industry, ICT and Digitalisation, Business Finland
Special view on Mobile Machines and AI. Introducing key requirement for R&D and future evolution.

2:00 – 2:30 pm
The Cyber‑Resilient Digital Mine, Machinery Manufacturer Perspective
Jarkko Holappa, Offering Cybersecurity Lead, Sandvik
Machinery manufacturer enables cyber‑resilient mining by embedding cybersecurity and safety practices across the full equipment lifecycle. This begins from product development, where cybersecurity, functional safety, and system requirements are traceable and verifiable throughout the development phases. The secure development lifecycle (SDL) typically includes activities such as threat analysis, secure design practices, code and configuration verification, and validation of security controls before release. This is increasingly important as regulatory and customer requirements tighten around demonstrable cybersecurity assurance. This presentation gives practical insights and examples showing how engineering processes, especially SDL, can contribute to a more resilient and trustworthy digital mine.

2:45 – 3:45 pm
Digital Transformation… Again
Interactive Working Session
With the daily improvements to AI technologies, work is being re-defined, methods and processes are being challenged. This working session will explore the opportunities, the challenges and what strategies we can apply to take full advantage of these technologies.

4:15 – 5:00 pm
Beyond the Tower of Babel: Lessons in Interoperability from the Telecom Revolution
Nicklas Johansson, Research Leader Radio Network, Ericsson
Today’s mines are full of brilliant machines that can’t talk to each other. Autonomous trucks from one vendor, drill systems from another, fleet management from a third. Each one a breakthrough. Together, an expensive Tower of Babel where every integration is custom and every new vendor means starting over. The telecom industry lived this exact story thirty years ago. Fragmented, proprietary networks that couldn’t interoperate across borders. Then fierce competitors chose to collaborate. Through 3GPP, they built a consensus engine where technical merit wins over corporate interest, and a shared standard unlocks more value than any proprietary advantage ever could. The result: a unified platform connecting eight billion people. This talk unpacks how that transformation happened, what made the consensus model work, and why mining is in a position to follow the same path. Interoperability is not an IT project. It is a strategic shift that drives safety, accelerates innovation, and moves competition from vendor lock-in to operational excellence.

4:45 – 5:30 pm
From Simulation to Reality: Practical AI Applications for Performance
Panel
This session will dive into the practical applications of data, analytics, and simulation to drive operational excellence. The discussion will move beyond theory to address real-world challenges such as interoperability and cybersecurity. Experts will share concrete case studies demonstrating how AI-driven systems, digital twins, and advanced analytics are delivering measurable gains in safety, productivity, and asset performance across operating mines.

Panelists (to date):

• Ash Agarwal, CEO, SYMX.AI
• Nicklas Johansson, Manager, Ericsson
• Pasi Julkunen, CEO & Co-Founder, Mexlink

Meeting decarbonization and sustainability goals requires fundamental changes across mine design, equipment, energy systems, and operations. This theme examines how electrification, low-emission technologies, and clean energy solutions are being implemented in mining today, and what is needed to accelerate progress while maintaining operational performance.

8:30 – 8:45 am
Reflections and Context for the Day
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, GMG

8:45 – 9:15 am
Electrification as a Catalyst for Competitive, Low‑Carbon Mining
Anders Hedqvist, Head of Strategic Projects, Epiroc
Mining is moving from ambition to large‑scale deployment of electrification, driven by regulation, investor pressure, and the need for safer, more productive operations. Proven electric and battery‑electric solutions are already delivering real emissions reductions, but scaling requires coordinated action across technology, infrastructure, skills, and financial models. This presentation highlights what is working today—and what the industry must align on to accelerate global adoption.

9:15 – 10:30 am
Energy Transition
Interactive Working Session
Deep dive into how we can work together to meet our carbon and other Sustainability goals. Working in small groups, explore options, opportunities and challenges to the industry. How can we collaborate across the industry.

11:00 – 11:30 am
Update on the BEV Guidelines and report from the Electric Mine Conference
David Jacques, Vice President Engineering, MacLean Engineering;
Rikard Maki Head of Electrification and Automation, Mobile Assets, Boliden; &
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, GMG

11:30 – 12:30 pm
Powering the Transition: Implementing Clean Energy and Electrification Today
Panel
Focusing on the industry’s shift toward sustainability, this panel examines the implementation of low-emission technologies and clean energy solutions. A key focus will be how operators are integrating electrification, energy storage, and low-emission systems in ways that enhance reliability, reduce lifecycle costs, and strengthen operational resilience. Participants will share lessons learned from current electrification projects and the transition to greener energy sources.

Panelists:

• Anders Hedqvist, Head of Strategic Projects, Epiroc
• Erik Kanerva, Sales Director – Northern Europe, Kempower
• Henrik Kiviniemi, CEO, Callio
• Mikael Ramström, Director, Digital Solutions, Epiroc (Moderator)

While innovation continues integrating new technologies into operating mines remains a significant challenge. This theme focuses on how the industry can bridge the gap between innovation and implementation through pilot and demonstration sites, collaboration, and new business models. It also explores emerging shifts from traditional equipment sales toward service- and performance-based models enabled by digital technologies.

1:30 – 2:00 pm
Zero Entry Mining: An Industry imperative
Andrew Scott, Interim CEO, Global Mining Guidelines Group with Zero Entry Working Group Leads Geoff Liggins, UWA/Motem and Graeme Mitchell

2:00 – 2:30 pm
Future-Ready Mining Connectivity
Vesa Kainulainen, COO & Founder, Delta Cygni Labs
Mining is undergoing rapid digital transformation, but real-world underground environments still cause unstable data transmission despite modern connectivity. A case study shows that 5G, WiFi, and satellite networks degrade under packet loss, interference and congestion, limiting reliable remote operations. By applying an application-layer approach to optimize data transmission, stability and responsiveness can be significantly improved without changing existing infrastructure. This enables practical use cases while still acknowledging environmental limitations. The key insight is that connectivity in mining is a dynamic systems problem, where improving data transmission behavior is essential to unlocking digital mining potential. 

3:00 – 3:15 pm
Cyber Security: It’s important!
Rob Labbé, CEO and CISO in Residence, MM-ISAC

3:15 – 3:30 pm
Introduction to Sitra
Sitra – Future thinking institute of Finland

3:30 – 4:45 pm
Advancing Zero Entry Mining: Priorities, Focus Areas, and Mindset Shift
Interactive Working Session
In this interactive session, participants will explore key focus areas emerging from the Zero Entry work, contribute expertise and input through small-group discussions, and deepen understanding of the operational and cultural shift required to move toward truly zero-entry mining.

4:45 – 5:00 pm
Reflections from the GMG Chair
Mikael Ramström, Director, Digital Solutions, Epiroc