IMII’s DEMOday 2025 Showcases Leading Innovation for Saskatchewan’s Mining Industry

The International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII) welcomed innovators, industry leaders, and stakeholders to DEMOday 2025 today in Saskatoon, where cutting-edge technologies were presented to meet the evolving needs of Saskatchewan’s potash and uranium sectors.

Chosen from an open call addressing 20 identified technology needs — from waste heat recovery to machine learning and water treatment — this year’s DEMOday featured eight forward-thinking companies pitching breakthrough solutions, including:

• KGS Group – Waste Heat Recovery and Geoexchange Systems
• Vital Design Solutions Inc. – VDS Polymer Exchanger for Exhaust Heat Recovery
• RFIDetect – RFIDetect
• Renix Inc. – RenixUIX™, the Steady-State Ion Exchange Platform for Critical Metals Recovery and Fit-for-Use Water
• Rockford Engineering Works – GradeScan or DrillScan – Accelerated Ore Analysis
• Prairie Machine – Geogrid Handler
• Rockford Engineering Works – Live Conveyor Roller Replacement (LCR2)
• Rockford Engineering Works – The Muck Combine

“DEMOday continues to serve as a dynamic platform to uncover and explore innovations that can sustainably advance Saskatchewan’s minerals industry,” said Al Shpyth, IMII’s Executive Director. “These selected innovators represent a diverse cross-section of companies working on practical, scalable solutions to real-world mining challenges.”

As part of DEMOday 2025, IMII presented three Innovation Awards recognizing standout technologies:

• Vital Design Solutions Inc. received the Breakthrough Innovation Award, recognizing a bold, novel solution that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the minerals industry.
• Renix Inc. received the Impact Innovation Award for a high-potential uranium sector innovation with near-term adoption potential.
• Rockford Engineering Works also received the Impact Innovation Award for its Live Conveyor Roller Replacement technology, offering measurable value to the potash industry.

Winners were selected by a panel of experts from IMII’s member companies — BHP, Cameco, Fission Uranium, Mosaic, Nutrien, and Uranium Energy Corp — based on their potential to advance Saskatchewan’s mining sector through transformative innovation or immediate operational impact.

IMII extends its thanks to its promotional partners — SIMSA, SREDA, and Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development — for their continued support in fostering innovation across the province’s minerals industry.

Press Release