Innovation banner

Innovation

$

400 million

Annual R&D investment

500

+

Dedicated R&D experts

$

5–6 billion

Expected decarbonisation investment by 2030

For more than 150 years, we’ve been finding better ways™ to provide the materials the world needs.

We were at the forefront of automation – trucks, trains and drills – and remote operations in our industry. We’ve found better, lower carbon ways of producing materials like aluminium and scandium. And we’ve introduced the world’s first sustainability label for aluminium using blockchain technology.

The need for innovation is greater than ever. The energy transition and continued urbanisation will require more of the materials that make these things possible, such as copper, aluminium, iron ore, lithium and minerals. If the materials that make renewable energy possible cause more harm in production than their products offset, nobody benefits.

Much of the technology we need to get to net zero by 2050 doesn’t exist today, so we need to contribute, support and partner to make it a reality. We’re building meaningful partnerships and connections to help us tackle challenges and drive change.

Breakthrough technologies also create opportunities for our business. For example, technology advances are helping our geologists to find new deposits, unlock previously economically unviable resources, and extending the life of existing assets. We’re also creating new products from waste. We became the first producer of scandium oxide in North America, using an innovative process we developed to extract high purity scandium oxide from waste streams without the need for any additional mining.

The red river
Oyu Tolgoi Underground

Oyu Tolgoi underground

Our world-class open pit mine and underground project using block-caving mining techniques to extract the ore and transport it to the surface.
Traffic at night, Mongolia

Our business

Rio Tinto is a mining and metals company operating in about 35 countries around the world
Driverless AutoHaul train, Pilbara

Automation

We harness new and emerging technologies to make our operations more efficient, safer and more environmentally friendly
Arm holding out blueberries

Partnering to innovate

Our growing network of partners - governments, communities, customers and suppliers - is helping expand our thinking, capabilities and ability to deliver mutual benefit
Drone on site

Smart mining

By combining this data with clever analytics, artificial intelligence, machine learning and automation, we are making our business safer and more productive

Innovation stories

Machinery, Oyu Tolgoi

Decade of innovation, lifetime of opportunity

Many standout moments have helped define the first 10 years of operation at Oyu Tolgoi
Product of Mongolia banner

Breaking new ground for copper supply

Taking the world’s fourth-largest copper mine underground
Copper in electric cars

What makes our copper blush?

Being honoured as the world’s first responsibly produced