Over 100 innovators gathered at the CORE Innovation Hub last weekend 13-15 April 2018 to tackle one of four real operational challenges from BHP Nickel West at Unearthed Perth 2018, which marked the fifth anniversary of the inaugural resources technology hackathon in 2014.
The 54 hour open innovation event “was a celebration of an incredible community coming together to crowdsource innovative solutions to some of mining’s toughest challenges.” On opening night, Nickel West Head of Integrated Operations Karl Stokes announced Nickel West’s vision of energising their future through innovation and technology and went on to introduce the valuable opportunity for Perth’s brightest minds to take their solutions through to implementation.
“Working with Unearthed is a great opportunity to connect with some of the best minds in the technology and data science space. Nickel West is in an exciting period as we are set to become a globally significant battery material supplier very soon. We are excited about the outcomes and ideas that are going to be generated over this one innovative weekend,” said Stokes.
Co-Founder and Chair of thriving Western Australian startup Power Ledger, Dr Jemma Green also gave a keynote address at Unearthed Perth, imparting sound entrepreneurial advice to the teams of innovators. “While your brain is solving one particular problem, have some kind of deep background commercial question running at the same time,” Green said.
Students and professionals from the science, engineering, business, entrepreneurial, software development and mathematics disciplines put their skills to the test and worked tirelessly over the 54-hour event, creating 21 insightful solutions in response to Nickel West’s four major operational challenges.
The top 14 teams pitched their technology prototypes to the esteemed judging panel and fellow innovators at the conclusion of the hackathon. First prize was taken out by Team Steel Ballers, a group of University of Western Australia Engineering alumni, who developed Unleashing SAG2, a state based simulation and Genetic Algorithm in response to Nickel West’s Mt Keith grinding circuit optimisation challenge.
