When research reaches the mine — and delivers results

In mining, production must run smoothly, and problems that arise require quick solutions. But some issues are more complex and take time to resolve. That’s why collaboration with the research community is a crucial piece of the puzzle for Rasmus Tammia, head of Boliden’s AI program. 

“Research gives us the freedom to delve into more complex issues without always knowing exactly where it will lead. The results can build knowledge that will be important down the road and create value for the business today,” he says.  

The AI program conducts research and development in industrial AI, with a focus on our core business and the people who work there. But to build knowledge for the future, expertise and perspectives from outside the company are also needed.

How WASP creates a platform for research

The research community offers expertise that isn’t always available in industry. That’s why Boliden is participating in WASP, the largest individual research program in Sweden in modern times. This national initiative brings together research and skills development in areas such as AI, autonomous systems, and software. 

For Rasmus, participation is not just about the studies themselves. Through WASP, researchers, universities, and companies from various industries come together to exchange knowledge and forge new collaborations. 

“It’s a really great network where we learn from one another and see that companies in very different industries often face similar challenges,” he says.

A bridge between research and industry 

When long-term research makes a tangible difference in operations, the connection between universities and industry becomes clear. One example is Frida Norlund, an industrial Ph.D. student in control engineering at Lund University and an employee here at Boliden. 

Frida Norlund devotes 80% of her time to her doctoral studies and the remaining 20% to working as an engineer. Among other things, she works on operational support and improvements to the flotation control system. 

“For me, it’s been important that what I do can be applied in practice. I want to see what problems we’re solving and what purpose it serves in the operation. I want my research to exist in the space between academia and industry,” says Frida.  

Her research focuses on advanced process control in the flotation process at the Boliden Aitik copper mine. Simply put, flotation is the process by which copper is separated from the rest of the ore. The ground ore is mixed with water and chemicals so that the copper particles can be carried to the surface by air bubbles and be recovered. 

For the process to work, the levels in the large flotation tanks, among other things, need to be kept stable. Frida compares the control technology to a car’s cruise control: the operator determines how the process should behave, and the control system helps keep it there. But what happens when the flow suddenly changes? That is one of the challenges she has investigated more closely.

When research becomes reality 

At Boliden Aitik, there are large mills that grind the ore before it moves on to the flotation tanks. If the mills suddenly stop or restart, it can create disturbances that cause the levels in the tanks to fluctuate. This, in turn, affects both the quantity and quality of the final product. 

Frida therefore investigated how the control of the flotation process could be better coordinated to reduce the effects of these disruptions. The results have gone all the way from research to actual operation, and the new control system is now implemented at Boliden Aitik. 

“It feels great! My goal has always been to keep my research closely connected to day-to-day work so it can be put into practice,” she says. 

The difference is also noticeable for the operators. With the new control system, the process remains more stable and requires less attention when a mill stops or starts. 

“When a mill stops, the operators don’t have to focus as much on the flotation process to keep it under control. Now that it’s performing much better, they can focus more on other things, like resolving the stoppage,” says Frida.

Value beyond a single result 

Research does not always deliver immediate results. Unlike operational development projects, which are often designed to solve a specific problem, research can delve deeply into an issue over the course of several years. 

For us at Boliden’ , it’s therefore about managing two things at once: developing the business here and now, and building knowledge for the future. 

“We need to have this long-term perspective. You can’t just focus on the short term,” says Rasmus. 

At the same time, Frida’s work shows that the line between research for the future and practical benefits today isn’t always so clear. What begins as a research question can eventually become part of day-to-day operations—and sometimes it happens faster than expected.