On May 4, 2023, La Palma Research Centre (LPRC) hosted the first ROBOMINERS Roadmapping Workshop on La Palma. The workshop formed a part of the project’s foresight exercises, aimed at mapping the future of this innovative mining technology. It brought together project partners and external experts from the fields of robotics and mineral raw materials.

During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to contribute their ideas and visions for the 2030 ROBOMINERS Roadmap, which aimed at guiding future research and development towards the real pilot implementation of the technology.

To set the groundwork, participants were asked to review and comment on previously collected targets for ROBOMINERS while suggesting new valid targets for consideration.

Furthermore, participants were tasked with suggesting actions and pathways relevant to the main areas of ROBOMINERS, namely Exploration, Development, Operation, the Robot-miner, and PESTEL (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental, and Legal). In the subsequent exercise, participants were asked to prioritise the actions and ideas on the canvas through a “funding” exercise. Each participant was allocated funds to invest in specific areas based on their preferences.