Mining@ORU 2026 – Trust and confidence in the future for a sustainable supply of metals and minerals
29 September 2026 09:00 – 14:00 Örebro University
How can we build trust around the decisions needed for the climate transition? How can we inspire confidence in the future among the next generation? And what roles do research, industry, culture and collaboration play in enabling a sustainable supply of metals and minerals?
Mining@ORU is an annual meeting place where researchers, industry, the public sector and civil society come together to discuss current issues related to mining, metals and the green transition. This year’s theme, Trust and confidence in the future for a sustainable supply of metals and minerals, explores how technological development, dialogue with society and long-term relationships can together help shape a sustainable future.
Throughout the day, research, practical experience and new perspectives will come together in presentations and discussions ranging from young people’s views on technology and climate change to collaboration, cultural heritage and international experiences of sustainable development in the metals and minerals sector.
The conference will be held in English and is aimed at researchers, companies, public-sector organisations, civil society organisations and others interested in gaining new perspectives and making new connections.
Some of this year’s speakers:
Maria Ojala, Professor at the University of Oulu and Associate Professor in Psychology at Örebro University, will present research on young people’s trust in technological and scientific solutions to climate change. Trust in technology is sometimes described as a way of leaving the responsibility to others and remaining passive. But her research points to a more complex picture: trust in technological solutions may instead strengthen young people’s sense that they can make a difference and increase their engagement with climate change.
Yiannis Chrysostomidis and Tim Vickery, Associate Partner at Reos Partners, will share insights from six months of conversations with senior practitioners across the international mining sector. Why do projects get stuck despite sound geology and competent engineering? He will highlight five recurring patterns through which trust is lost or never built – and show how the relationships around a mining project can, in practice, be just as critical as its technical infrastructure.
Birgitta Johansen and Marcus Drotz, Örebro County Museum, will present the vision behind the upcoming Järnvindlingar initiative. Through cultural heritage, storytelling and new forms of dialogue, they explore how history can contribute to greater understanding, dialogue and confidence in the future of the Bergslagen region – and the role that metals and minerals have played, both historically and for the future.
Magnus Johansson, State Geologist at the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU), presents SGU’s work on designating mineral deposits as areas of national interest. What do these designations mean in practice, and how do they influence municipalities, regions and other stakeholders involved in spatial planning? His presentation explores how safeguarding known mineral resources can contribute to a secure long-term mineral supply and strengthen Sweden’s preparedness and security of supply.
Mattias Bäckström, Senior Consultant at Bergskraft Bergslagen AB, explores what the growing interest in mineral exploration means for municipalities in Bergslagen. Rising demand for critical raw materials and rare earth elements is creating new opportunities, while also raising complex questions about land use, environmental impact, cultural heritage and long-term development. His presentation examines how municipalities can build the knowledge and capacity needed to navigate these challenges.
More presentations on trust, sustainable mining communities, research, innovation and developments in the metals and minerals sector will be announced as the programme takes shape.
