Zambia has officially launched the Timbuktoo MineTech Hub, a cutting-edge innovation center in Lusaka designed to transform the mining sector through technology, partnership, and sustainability. The hub is a public-private partnership involving the National Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research (NISIR), First Quantum Minerals (FQM), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under its Timbuktoo initiative.

The MineTech Hub is part of the UNDP’s broader Pan-African Timbuktoo program, which targets technology-led economic transformation and aims to accelerate innovation ecosystems across sectors. It provides a platform where start-ups, researchers, industry players, and tech innovators can develop, test, and scale cutting-edge mining technologies—including AI, automation, data analytics, drones, and sustainable resource management tools to solve real-world challenges in the industry.

Zambia’s Minister of Technology and Science highlighted that the hub aligns with the country’s national goals, including boosting mining competitiveness, increasing copper production to 3 million tonnes annually, and deepening local participation in value creation. By fostering tech-driven solutions and empowering young entrepreneurs, the MineTech Hub is expected to not only enhance operational efficiency and safety but also drive job creation, investment, and sustainable mining practices that protect the environment and communities.