Hexagon has announced a significant investment of technology and training at a university in Saudi Arabia, further establishing its roots in a country with major exploration and mining ambitions.

King Saud University will receive course materials and Hexagon MinePlan licences as part of an initiative to help attract and train a new generation of mining talent in the Middle East.

MinePlan is, Hexagon says, the dependable single source of truth for mining professionals in more than 450 open-pit and underground mines located across almost 40 countries. For decades, mine engineers and geologists have counted on MinePlan 3D’s modelling, data visualisation and production capabilities, the company added.

The investment signed at this week’s Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, extends Hexagon’s partnership with mining interests in the region a year after it signed a landmark agreement with Saudi Arabian mining company, Ma’aden, to launch the Middle East’s very first digital mine.

Investing in the miners of tomorrow continues a cherished tradition, according to Hexagon’s Dave Goddard, Executive Vice President, Mining.

“Hexagon has long supported and partnered with mining schools and students worldwide via sponsorships, scholarships, software licenses and research collaborations,” Goddard said. “We’re focused on the coming decades of mining innovation, so it makes sense to support the miners of tomorrow. We’re particularly happy to do so in a region where we’re co-authoring the next chapter of mining with a partner like Ma’aden.”