Rio Tinto Drives Sustainability Dialogue at London Tech Week to Accelerate Innovation in Critical Materials

Rio Tinto Drives Sustainability Dialogue at London Tech Week to Accelerate Innovation in Critical Materials

(IN BRIEF) Rio Tinto is the only mining company participating in London Tech Week 2025, where it will lead discussions on sustainable innovation, critical minerals, and ClimateTech. As part of its innovation strategy, Rio Tinto is actively engaging startups, universities, and investors to co-develop solutions for the energy transition and digital future. With initiatives like its Accelerator Program, Ventures Fund, and a $150 million investment in the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, the company aims to drive real progress toward decarbonisation and sustainability. Executives including CEO Jakob Stausholm and Chief Innovation Officer Dan Walker will headline key panels during the event.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON , 9-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Rio Tinto is taking its innovation agenda to the forefront of global technology dialogue by engaging directly with researchers, entrepreneurs, and disruptors at London Tech Week 2025. As the only mining company present at the event, Rio Tinto is positioning itself as a key player in accelerating sustainable breakthroughs across sectors vital to the energy transition and technological advancement.

At the heart of Rio Tinto’s participation is a focus on solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges—meeting rising demand for critical minerals, scaling materials delivery more sustainably, and enabling innovations in AI, electrification, and renewables. Throughout London Tech Week, Rio Tinto will lead conversations around how mining and technology must increasingly converge to meet these complex global needs.

“Innovation is part of Rio Tinto’s DNA,” said Dan Walker, Chief Innovation Officer at Rio Tinto. “We’ve been at the intersection of mining and technology for over 150 years. As we now face global challenges like climate change, urbanisation, and the accelerating demand for cleaner energy, delivering the materials needed for this future must happen faster, more sustainably, and with less impact. But we know we can’t do this alone. That’s why we’re reaching out to the brightest minds across startups, universities, and governments to co-develop real-world solutions.”

Rio Tinto’s growing innovation ecosystem includes its Accelerator Program, developed in collaboration with startup investor Founders Factory, and the Rio Tinto Ventures Fund, both of which support high-potential startups innovating in mining, sustainability, and ClimateTech. Additionally, Rio Tinto has committed $150 million to the Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials, a global research initiative advancing science for decarbonisation and responsible resource use. The centre is led by Imperial College London, in partnership with The University of British Columbia, UC Berkeley, University of the Witwatersrand, and The Australian National University.

Rio Tinto will headline and participate in several sessions at London Tech Week 2025:

• Monday, 9 June: “Unlocking tomorrow’s tech: powering innovation that ensures the sustainable supply of the materials that matter” — featuring CEO Jakob Stausholm and CIO Dan Walker (Main Stage)
• Wednesday, 11 June: “Creating the Future from Campus: Why Are University Spinouts So Important for Innovation?” — with Marie-Pierre Paquin, Head of Science & Partnerships (Founders Stage)
• Wednesday, 11 June: “Why the future depends on blurring the lines between Mining and ClimateTech” — moderated by Pekka Santasalo, Head of Growth & Ventures (Impact Stage)

Through its presence at London Tech Week, Rio Tinto is calling on new collaborators to join its network of global innovators working to reshape the future of materials and sustainability.

Media Contacts:

email: media.enquiries@riotinto.com

Media Relations:

David Outhwaite
Tel: +44 7787 597 493

SOURCE: Rio Tinto