Freiberg is embedded in the unique cultural landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Montanregion Erzgebirge/Krušnohoři" and is characterised by an attractive medieval town centre. The city owes its foundation and fame to silver mining from the 12th century onwards. The Freiberg University of Mining and Technology was founded here in 1765 as the world's first university for mining and metallurgy, which still exists until this day, and has developed its profile to include a broader spectrum of geo/material, energy and environmental sciences.

Based on this tradition, it is an honour and a pleasure for us to invite you to the "Future of Opencast Mining" conference in 2025. The conference will focus on the challenges of our time - digitalisation, robotics/AI, economic optimisation, environmental and social challenges, public acceptance / recruiting young talent, modern education, research/development and internationalisation. The conference brings together leading international scientists, representatives of the mining and mining machinery industry, government administration and specialised service and consulting companies. The conference offers plenary and thematic sections, panel discussions, workshops, excursions and a cultural framework as well as space for exchange and networking.

If you intend to be joined by your life partner or similarly situated persons, which we would be very pleased about, we offer a accompanying programme for the two conference days (16 and 17 September 2025) with a city tour and visits to sights, such as one of the most beautiful mineral collections in the world - the Terra Mineralia.

To the flyer