Hackathon sparks student-driven solutions for potash and mining sector
In January 2025, the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) welcomed bright minds, big challenges, and bold ideas as it hosted the second SIMSA Mining Hackathon — an intense 24-hour innovation sprint that connected students with pressing needs in Saskatchewan’s mining and minerals industry.
The hackathon was presented in partnership with USask Engineering’s Tech Innovation Certificate program and the SIGMA summer entrepreneurship program and was proudly partnered by the Saskatchewan Industrial and Mining Suppliers Association (SIMSA) and the International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII).
Over 30 undergraduate and graduate students from USask and Saskatchewan Polytechnic took part in the challenge, which asked participants to design solutions in response to the DEMOday 2025 list of technology needs developed by the IMII. With limited time, teams collaborated, problem-solved and pitched their ideas to a panel of industry judges.
Designed to bridge the gap between industry and future talent, the hackathon gave students a chance to apply their academic learning to real-world scenarios. Students worked in multidisciplinary teams, blending skills in engineering, computer science, environmental science, and more, to reflect the collaborative nature of modern mining.
“Hackathons like this are essential in supporting students to apply their knowledge gained from the classroom to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability within industry,” says Professor Tate Cao, La Borde chair in Engineering Entrepreneurship at USask. “It’s about developing domain expertise, building confidence, innovation capacity and supporting students to make an impact.”
This year’s competition proved to be more than just an academic exercise. Many of the students were offered jobs in Saskatchewan’s mining and suppliers’ industry, thanks to their entrepreneurial thinking, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork.
The top prize went to a team of USask Engineering students: Grayson Goodwin, Lian Wood, Makayla Robinson, Layne Ransom, and Obinna Ezenyeaku. Their solution proposed a system to alert underground low-voltage operators about road hazards and nearby personnel. Their concept was designed to improve safety and reduce costly maintenance interruptions. Their idea attracted industry interest, and the team was invited to pitch their innovation to IMII’s DEMOday event in May. The team is now exploring the potential to advance their solution as a start-up in the SIGMA summer program.
The hackathon underscored USask’s role in advancing innovation and workforce development within Saskatchewan’s critical mineral and resource sectors. It demonstrated how strategic partnerships between post-secondary institutions, students and industry can accelerate ideas from concept to potential commercialization.
“We are very proud and appreciative of the groups of students, ranging from undergrad to doctoral candidates, as well as faculty and industry who attended the Hackathon,” says SIMSA’s James Bulmer with SIMSA. “Everyone came together to create an amazing event which both promoted innovation and the mining industry and produced high-quality ideas and presentations.”
Lesley McGilp, executive directory of the IMII added that they are proud to support the next generation of innovators through our involvement in the hackathon.
“Events like this empower students to tackle real-world challenges with creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge thinking—qualities that are essential to the future of Saskatchewan’s minerals industry,” says McGilp. “We’re excited to see the energy and ingenuity these students bring to the table.”
With an eye on the future, Professor Cao and USask Engineering continue to encourage mining and industrial partners to collaborate with the college through future hackathons, guest lectures, or real-world project mentoring.
“Innovation happens where curiosity meets purpose, and that’s exactly what we’re building at USask,” says Cao.
For more information or to connect, contact Tate Cao at tate.cao@usask.ca.
About SIMSA
SIMSA represents over 360 companies with a permanent physical office in Saskatchewan, in the energy, mining, and industrial sectors. This membership has over 34,000 employees in our province with over $17-billion in annual sales attributable to their Saskatchewan operations. We are the voice of the Saskatchewan industrial and mining supply chain.
About IMII
The International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) is the trusted hub for expertise and innovation in Saskatchewan’s minerals industry, driving transformative change, inspiring actionable solutions, and building a sustainable and globally respected minerals sector in the province. As a member-based organization governed by industry, post-secondary education, and government, we unite to accelerate technological innovation, develop a representative workforce, and promote thought leadership. Together, we drive progress and shape the future of the minerals sector.
