Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our business
We operate in 35 countries where our 57,000 employees are working to find better ways to provide the materials the world needs
Our purpose in action
Continuous improvement and innovation are part of our DNA
Innovation
The need for innovation is greater than ever
We supply the metals and minerals used to help the world grow and decarbonise
Iron Ore
The primary raw material used to make steel, which is strong, long-lasting and cost-efficient
Lithium
The lightest of all metals, it is a key element needed for low-carbon technologies
Copper
Tough but malleable, corrosion-resistant and recyclable, and an excellent conductor of heat and transmitter of electricity
Bringing to market materials critical to urbanisation and the transition to a low-carbon economy
Oyu Tolgoi
One of the most modern, safe and sustainable operations in the world
Rincon Project
A long-life, low-cost and low-carbon lithium source
Simandou Project
The world’s largest untapped high-grade iron ore deposit
Providing materials the world needs in a responsible way
Climate Change
We’re targeting net zero emissions by 2050
Nature solutions
Our nature-based solutions projects complement the work we're doing to reduce our Scope 1 and 2 emissions
Decarbonisation progress update
We have a clear plan on decarbonisation - find out more about our progress in 2024
We aim to deliver superior returns to our shareholders while safeguarding the environment and meeting our obligations to wider society
Acquisition of Arcadium Lithium
Bringing our scale, development capabilities and financial strength to the Arcadium Lithium portfolio
Get the latest news, stories and updates
Things you can't live without
Our podcast discussing what needs to happen to create a sustainable future for the everyday items we have come to rely on
The 'f' word of innovation
How unlocking innovation requires a change of mindset
Reducing titanium oxide's carbon footprint
Our BlueSmelting technology could drastically reduce carbon emissions during ore processing
Discover more about life at Rio Tinto
Graduates and students
If you want to drive real change, we have just the place to do it
Empowering families with flexibility
Supporting new parents of any gender with equal access to parental leave
Available jobs
Join our team
MELBOURNE, Australia--The Rio Tinto-backed Future Minds Accelerator has been redesigned to run remotely so a first round of 14 start-up enterprises can access the education technology programme and immediately help students with the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions.
The 14 startups have been selected to receive funding and support under the Future Minds Accelerator, which is designed to help provide school-age students with the skills needed for jobs of the future by backing entrepreneurs with fresh ideas in the sector.
The launch of the programme, which helps startups scale their reach and impact on the Australian education system, comes as COVID-19 drives unprecedented demand for education innovation.
The Future Minds Accelerator is a collaboration between Rio Tinto, BlueChilli, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is part of a AUD $10 million investment in the EdTech sector by Rio Tinto over four years.
The accelerator programme’s independent Advisory Council of education and business experts, chaired by David Gonski AC, selected the 14 startups to support students, teachers, parents, and tutors and prepare young Australians for the jobs of the future. The Advisory Council also took into account challenges faced by students from lower-income, remote or indigenous communities.
In light of COVID-19 restrictions, the Future Minds Accelerator has been rapidly redesigned to run remotely, ensuring it can help Australian school students, teachers, parents and tutors through the challenges of the current pandemic.
David Gonski said “I was enormously impressed by the diversity and excellence of the submissions we reviewed and I am confident that the Accelerator Program will assist the 14 start-ups that we have chosen to make a significant difference in the areas in which they are focused.”
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury said “COVID-19 and the measures in place to stop its spread have underlined both the importance and potential of technological innovation in educating young learners.
“With the right support, the EdTech sector can take the necessary steps to set the foundation for a better future education system, enabled by technology, after the pandemic has passed.”
Each startup will receive a AUD $50,000 grant from Rio Tinto, access to a high-calibre independent Advisory Council of business, education, and innovation leaders, training and mentoring from experienced entrepreneurs through BlueChilli and up to USD $100,000 in AWS Activate Credits to help them scale using cloud technology.
BlueChilli program director Filipa C. Araújo said “At a time where the challenges posed by COVID-19 seem to multiply on a daily basis, this phenomenal cohort of startups have been working as hard and as fast as they can to ensure that they are able to offer schools, teachers, parents, and students the solutions they need, at the time they need them the most.”
The 14 startups selected to join the Future Minds Accelerator are:
To be up to date with the Future Minds Accelerator news and opportunities to join their virtual activities with schools, students and parents, register here.
The result of a collaboration between Rio Tinto, leading startup accelerator BlueChilli and the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Future Minds Accelerator is taking a new, disruptive approach to targeting school-age learners by supporting startups. Initially aimed at preparing young Australians for the digital future by helping fast-track skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, automation, systems design, and data analytics, the accelerator program has quickly adapted to also focus on increasing access to the education technologies that foster remote learning.
Rio Tinto has committed to invest AUD $10 million in a four-year national program, targeted at school-age learners that aims to fast-track the development of skills needed for the digital future. As the primary affiliate of the Future Minds Accelerator, Rio Tinto understands firsthand the capabilities and skills needed in the workers of the future. Being on the forefront of a traditional industry that has successfully navigated massive change, Rio Tinto understands innovation. The company is committed to investing in people — in startups that can solve future challenges, in communities that embrace change, in schools and administrators, and in students of all ages across Australia. The Future Minds Accelerator complements the AUD $14 million Rio Tinto already invests in education programmes each year with universities, schools, governments, and the not-for-profit sector to help meet growing demand for new and emerging skills. Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury is the company’s representative on the Future Minds Accelerator’s Advisory Council.
BlueChilli Technology is the leading tech accelerator in Australia. For eight years, BlueChilli has worked with thousands of entrepreneurs across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia and supported over 140 startups to build their technology companies. Working with Rio Tinto and Amazon Web Services, BlueChilli aims to address the future of work and the looming skills revolution for businesses of the future. By evaluating challenges facing Australia in the future and sourcing startups with innovations that can impact our country, BlueChilli will support startups with a five-month program to accelerate commercial success and create social change.
For more information, please contact:
Filipa Araújo, BlueChilli
M +61 4 3950 3430
filipa@bluechilli.com
Matt Chambers, Rio Tinto
M +61 433 525 739
matt.chambers@riotinto.com Category: general
How we process personal data provided or obtained through this website.
With the exception of the use of cookies, Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site. A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of our Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
With the exception of the use of cookies (explained below), Rio Tinto generally does not seek to collect personal data through this website. However if you choose to provide personal data to Rio Tinto through this website (for example, by sending us an email), we will process that personal data to answer your query and if relevant, to manage our business relationship with you or your company. We won't process that personal data for other purposes except where required to meet our legal obligations or otherwise as authorised by law and notified to you.
Part 1 of this Privacy Policy contains the Rio Tinto Data Privacy Standard, which provides an overview of Rio Tinto’s approach to personal data processing. There is additional information in the appendices to the Data Privacy Standard, including information about disclosures, trans-border data transfers, the exercise of data subject rights and how to make complaints or obtain further information relating to Rio Tinto’s processing of your personal data.
If you choose to subscribe to our media releases or other communications, you can unsubscribe at any time (by following the instructions in the email or by contacting us at digital.comms@riotinto.com).
With your consent, our website uses cookies to distinguish you from other users of our website. This helps us to provide you with a good experience when you browse our website and also allows us to improve our site.
A cookie is a small file of letters and numbers that we store on your browser or the hard drive of your computer if you agree. Cookies contain information that is transferred to your computer's hard drive.
As some data privacy laws regulate IP addresses and other information collected through the use of cookies as personal data, Rio Tinto’s processing of such personal data needs to comply with its Data Privacy Standard (see Part 1 of this Privacy Policy), and also applicable data privacy laws.
These Cookies are used to provide a better user experience on the site, such as by measuring interactions with particular content or remembering your settings such as language or video playback preferences.
These Cookies allow us to analyse site usage in order to evaluate and improve its performance. They help us know how often you come to our site and when, how long you stay and any performance issues you experience whilst you are on our site.
These Cookies are used by advertising companies to inform and serve personalised ads to your devices based on your interests. These Cookies also facilitate sharing information with social networks or recording your interactions with particular ads.