11th Oulu Mining Summit 2026 Mineral resource and sustainable mineral exploration 

Mon-Tue 28.-29. September

EPOS Workshop: 8.00-17.00
Venue: Garden Timjami -room (at 8:00-12:00) and Tellus Stage-room (at 12:00-17:00), University of Oulu, Finland & Online
Topic: EPOS ON Muography Standardisation Workshop

Wed 30. September

EIS short course: 8:00-17:00 
Venue: Tellus stage, University of Oulu
Instructors: Ina Storch (Beak Consultants GmbH), Johanna Pesonen (Geological Survey of Finland) 
Topic: Machine-learning based methods and tools for targeting mineral exploration 

Visiting Oulu Mining School research center 15:00-17:00

Instructors: Pertti Sarala, Markku Seitsaari (Oulu Mining School), visiting mini pilot mineral processing plant and geochemistry laboratory with new analytical facilities

Icebreaker and registration: 17:00-19:00
Venue: Tellus Stage, University of Oulu 

Thu-Fri 1.-2. October, Main conference, Oulu Mining Summit 2026

Oulu Mining Summit: 9:00-16:00
Venue: Saalastinsali hall, University of Oulu 

Thu 1. October 

8:30-9:00 Registration 

Session 1: Opening, and mineral policy and sponsor’s speech 

Host: Shenghong Yang (University of Oulu)

9:00-9:05  Shenghong Yang, Opening of conference

9:05-9:20 Pertti Sarala, University of Oulu, Opening, general presentation on research and development in Oulu Mining School 

9:20-9:40 Terho Liikamaa, Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency, Access Is Not Enough: Reflections on Mineral Exploration and Discovery in Finland 

9:40-10:00 Gerardo Herrera Garcia, DG Grow, Mineral Exploration in the CRM Act (Remote)

10:00-10:20 Ninad Bondre, Vinnova, The Raw Materials Partnership: funding transnational research & innovation across the value chain 

10:20-10:30 Carolina M. Ahlstrand,  AuroraTech, Technique development across mineral value chain in AuroraTech

10:30-11:00 Coffee break 

Session 2: Exploration for critical and strategical raw materials 

Host: Pertti Sarala (University of Oulu)

11:00-11:20 Pertti Lamberg, Anglo American, The long road of a world-class discovery to production – Sakatti, Strategic Project of EU 

11:20-11:40 Marcello Imaña, Viscaria, Viscaria, an update on copper exploration in the Kiruna District, Northern Sweden 

11:40-12:00 Jason Beckton, Bambra Oy, European Resources – Bambra Oy – Building a REE Resource Base in Finland 

12:00-13:00 Lunch break 

Session 3: Innovative exploration methods development 

Host: Juha Kaija (Geological Survey of Finland)

13:00-13:20 Martiya Sadeghi, Geological Survey of Sweden, Unlocking Sweden’s Critical Raw Material Potential: AI Applications and the National Exploration Programme

13:20-13:40 Vesa Nykänen, Geological Survey of Finland, From Research to Decisions: Digital Tools for Sustainable Mineral Exploration 

13:40-14:00 Ina Storch, Beak Consultants GmbH, 3D Multi-Method Geophysical Data Integration Using Self Organizing Maps: Methods and Results from Exploration Case Studies in Europe

14:00-14:20 Ari Saartenoja, RADAI Oy, Advances in Drone Geophysics at Radai 

14:20-14:50 Coffee break and poster session

Session 4: Funding for mineral exploration 

Host: Aleksi Salo (Mining Finland)

14:50-15:10 Maarit Kokko Business Finland Innovation ecosystems and RDI funding 

15:10-15:30 Juha-Matti Kekki, Kupukan Grafiitti Oy, From Graphite Exploration to Mine Development Project - Funding perspective

15:30-15:50 Kristiina Jokelainen, SmartNorth Ltd, How to generate the available financial streams to better support the mining value chain investment in Northern Europe ?

15:50-16:30 Panel discussion, funding for mineral exploration Aleksi Salo (Moderator), Mining Finland, Juho Järvelä,  Magna Capital, Jason Beketon, Bambra Oy, European Resources, Kristiina Jokelainen, SmartNorth Ltd

18:30-20:30 Conference dinner, Radisson Blue Hotel 

Fri 2. October 

Session 5: Exploration for critical and strategical raw materials 

Host: Jari Joutsevaara (University of Oulu)

9:00-9:20 Loïc Salesses, Endomines Oy, Karelian Gold Line - Technical insights on the recent discoveries 

9:20-9:40 Mikko Nenonen, Firefox Oy, FireFox Gold: Precision Exploration at Mustajärvi – From FLEM Conductors to High-Grade Gold 

9:40-10:00 Christian A.F. Dietze, District metals Corp., Viken Deposit and Beyond: District Metals’ uranium polymetallic projects in Europe’s evolving Raw Materials and Energy Security Framework 

10:00-10:20 Joel Jokelainen, Titanor Oy, The Most Advanced Titanium Project in the European Union 

10:20-10:30 Markus Latvala, Feasib Consulting Oy, sponsor’s speech, title (TBC)

10:30-11:00 Coffee break 

Session 6: Mineral exploration methods development  

Host: Fangfang Guo (University of Oulu)

11:00-11:20 Jari Joutsenvaara, University of Oulu, AGEMERA One Year On: From Project Results to Long-Term Impact  

11:20-11:40 Nils Jansson, Luleå University of Technology, CAMM-CRM – Strengthening Research and Innovation in Critical and Strategic Metals and Minerals 

11:40-12:00 Tuija Luhta, Geological Survey of Finland, The UNDERCOVER project: A geophysical approach to mineral systems 

12:00-13:00 Lunch break 

Session 7: Mineral exploration methods development and resource potential 

Host: Tiina Eskola (University of Oulu)

13:00-13:20 Alvar Soesoo, Geological Survey of Estonia, Estonian NEP and related ongoing activities 

13:20-13:40 Sophie Graul, Tallinn University of Technology, REE potential of low-grade sedimentary deposits: Example of Estonian phosphorites 

13:40-14:00 Shenghong Yang, University of Oulu, Mineral system and exploration of orthomagmatic ore deposits in Finland 

14:00-14:20 Pertti Sarala, University of Oulu, Latest development of surficial exploration methods in glaciated terrain 

14:20-14:30 Organizing committee Wrap-up of the conference 

Poster session (During coffee breaks on Thursday 1. October):

1. Vesa Nykänen, The Horizon Europe funded Deepbeat project

2. Pertti Sarala, Existence and environmental effect of black shales in glaciated terrain in the Oulu region, northern Finland

3. Pertti Sarala, Portable analysis method for analysing very low concentrations of gold

4. Pertti Sarala, GeoInfra - Strengthening the Geochemical and Mineralogical research infrastructure of Oulu Mining School

5. Oltingey Tuya Lindi, A hybrid geostatistical-machine learning framework for quantifying geological domain boundary uncertainty and its impact on grade and tonnage estimates

6. Sajna Shafeek, Helsinkite Alteration in the Varanto Underground Heat Storage Project: Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Engineering Implications

7. Jouni Sarala, Modelling of airborne FTMG data acquired in Ransko massif

8. Ummar Farid, Sedimentology and sulfur isotope systematics of evaporites, Peräpohja and Central Lapland belt, northern Finland

9. Bhashini Udawatte, Blast-Induced Microcracks in Ores for Energy-Efficient Comminution and Enhanced Flotation Performance