acQuire Welcomes Opportunity for Open Innovation Collaboration with Unearthed Community Partnership

acQuire Technology Solutions announces a community partnership with Unearthed, a 54-hour event bringing together top software developers, designers, and data scientists in an effort to find solutions to mining sector problems. Unearthed is organised by the Resource Innovation and Information Technology (RIIT) group and is fast becoming a hub of open innovation and collaboration in Australia’s natural resources industry.   

PERTH, Western Australia (16 December 2014) – In an industry notorious for conservative business decisions and a fiercely protective approach to intellectual property, the Unearthed project is proving it’s possible to foster an environment of open innovation and collaboration. Partnering with RIIT on the Unearthed project made perfect sense to acQuire Technology Solutions, who subscribe to an open innovation philosophy.

“We’ve always been interested in the Unearthed project because of our shared philosophy on open innovation,” says Steve Mundell, Director Research at acQuire.  

“We believe building a culture of collaboration in the mining sector will accelerate solutions to drive efficiency and productivity.

“Unearthed is a focal point of this activity and we support the development of the broader technology community,” he explains.

Unearthed will host four events throughout Australia in 2015 encouraging top software developers, designers, and data scientists to collaborate on mining problems. Mentors from the mining industry will also be present to provide advice and guidance where needed. The events are designed to quickly prototype potential solutions to resources sector problems. Prizes are awarded to the best solutions.  

“We’re very happy to have acQuire on board. As leaders in geoscience information management, they understand the need to continually innovate and drive efficiency in the mining sector, and we hope the Unearthed community can be of assistance,” says Zane Prickett, Director of RIIT Unearthed.

But it’s not just the mining sector benefitting from the Unearthed project. acQuire sees one of the biggest advantages of supporting Unearthed as the personal development afforded their own staff.

“Our software development team benefits from the creative exchange and challenge at the events,” observes Steve Mundell.

“We look forward to the open collaboration environment. We’re excited about the opportunity of rising to the challenge of producing high quality prototypes that contribute to the development of new solutions.”

If you would like more information about the 2015 events in Australia, visit the Unearthed website.

About acQuire

acQuire Technology Solutions is an employee-owned company originating in Perth, Western Australia. Founded in 1996, acQuire develops Geoscientific Information Management (GIM) software solutions for the natural resources industries with a focus on exploration, resource development and mining assets. Due to an ongoing commitment to excellence, acQuire reinvests 20-25% of their annual revenue into research and development. The company currently employs 121 staff working in seven offices around the globe, with support centres operating in each major time zone. More than 450 sites benefit from acQuire GIM solutions.

About RIIT

RIIT is an Australian not-for-profit company dedicated to creating a sustainable startup technology innovation ecosystem that leverages the strengths of the local resources sector.   In 2015 Unearthed will host 4 events throughout Australia and launch the first resources focus technology accelerator to invest and develop promising resources startups.