The mining industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by the need for greater productivity as well as safety. In the last three years alone, there have been over 3,000 patents filed and granted in the mining industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in mining: tunnel lining construction. Buy the report here.
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However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
45+ innovations will shape the mining industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the mining industry using innovation intensity models built on over 81,000 patents, there are 45+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, tunnel ventilation systems, remote tunnel monitoring, and mine drainage systems are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Lithium recovery, battery metal recycling and tunneling, and anchoring machine are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are hydrometallurgical extraction and hybrid industrial vehicles, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the mining industry
Tunnel lining construction is a key innovation area in mining
Tunnel lining construction in mining refers to the process of building protective structures within underground tunnels and excavations to ensure their stability and safety. These linings serve as a barrier between the tunnel walls and the surrounding rock or soil, providing support and preventing collapses or other forms of instability. Tunnel lining construction is a critical component of mining operations, as it helps maintain the structural integrity of underground passages. The choice of lining method depends on factors such as the geological conditions, tunnel dimensions, and the specific objectives of the mining project.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 355+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established mining companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of tunnel lining construction.
Key players in tunnel lining construction – a disruptive innovation in the mining industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
China Railway Group, China Communications Construction Group, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and China State Construction Engineering are some of the other key patent filers in this space.
In terms of application diversity, China Railway Construction leads the pack, followed by The 2nd Engineering of China Railway 12th Bureau Group. By means of geographic reach, Powerchina Roadbridge Group held the top positions, followed by Sinohydro Bureau 8 and Tian Di Science & Technology.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the mining industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Mining.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
