Innovation in mine action is no longer a choice but a vital part of making mine action more efficient and effective. Reducing the threat of landmines and other explosive ordnance takes more than incremental improvements — it calls for new ideas, methods and technologies that prove effective in real-world operations.
The Mine Action Innovation Hub connects people, ideas and resources to collectively drive innovation that accelerates progress towards a world free from the threat of explosive ordnance.
The Hub is an open community that brings together national authorities, operators, researchers, technology developers and donors to solve real operational problems together. Through its activities, it convenes experts, generates and shares knowledge, champions needs-based innovation, and helps the sector test, evaluate and scale promising solutions.
Strategic approach 2027–2030
Where we are heading. Our Strategic Approach 2027–2030 sets out the Hub’s vision: a shared ambition for needs-based innovation that stays accountable to affected communities and grounded in operational reality — and the priorities that will deliver it.
Our five strategic priorities:
Connecting local needs with global expertise
Strengthen nationally led innovation, helping authorities and operators identify needs and connect to the networks and resources that meet them.
Strengthening knowledge exchange
Build a coherent, sector-wide knowledge system that captures and shares innovation insights, including through AI-assisted tools and research briefs.
Enabling sustainable funding for innovation
Develop a shared understanding of financing gaps and enable more predictable, stage-appropriate support across the innovation lifecycle.
Broadening innovation beyond technology
Extend the focus of innovation from tools themselves to the methods, practices and human capacities that make them work, from risk and quality management to decision-making and prioritisation
Accelerating innovation adoption
Improve how the sector tests, evaluates, validates and scales solutions so that promising pilots reach sustained operational use.
How the Hub works
The Hub is multistakeholder, collaborative and inclusive in nature. It works through two complementary bodies and a set of activities.
Strategic Steering Board (SSB)
A multi-stakeholder body of senior representatives that sets the long-term vision and strategic priorities for research and innovation. It is a closed group that meets twice a year.
Innovation Technical Group (ITG)
The Innovation Technical Group is the operational arm of the Innovation Hub. It brings together experts, researchers, technologists, national authorities and operators. Together they identify and discuss the sector’s requirements, analyze and evaluate technologies, products and processes that could answer those requirements, and promote partnerships that support scaling of viable innovative solutions. The group meets regularly, both online and in-person. For specific tasks or activities, thematic subgroups are established with a dedicated team. Subgroups are voluntary, member-led and time-bound.
Terms of reference & workplan
Minutes of meeting and Agendas
Access meeting agendas and minutes to stay informed about discussions, decisions, and key updates.
6th Meeting (in person, Belgrade)_8–9 September 2026_Needs-finding
5th Meeting (online)_28 May 2026_Explosive substance detection
3rd Meeting (in person, Luxembourg)_31 October 2025
2nd Meeting (online)_27 March 2025_Robotics in mine action
1st Meeting (online)_5 December 2024
Preparatory Meeting (online)_23 May 2024
Upcoming events
7th ITG meeting, late October 2026, date TBC
Information management, data analytics and decision-making.
Online
8th ITG meeting, late November 2026, date TBC
Testing, evaluation and accreditation of innovative tools and methods.
Online
Innovation Conference 2027
Coming Soon
In person
Innovation activities
The Hub convenes the sector through conferences, focused innovation sessions and an open Innovation Award — creating space to exchange, generate ideas and turn them into concrete projects.
News & opportunities
Discover opportunities to collaborate through innovation challenges, calls for proposals, partnership opportunities, and community updates.
Website
Minesight Technologies Excavation Challenge — open challenge with a focus on Ukraine
An international competition to develop compact, remote excavation systems for humanitarian demining.
Website
UNDP Underwater EO Challenge — ITG members joined the evaluation panel.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has launched a global innovation challenge to identify bold, practical solutions that can help crisis-affected communities recover and rebuild.
Innovation team
Join the community
To ask a question, contribute to the ITG, or join our mailing list, contact Boris Ohanyan b.ohanyan@gichd.org or innovation@gichd.org
Donors
Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) Switzerland
Luxembourg Aid & Development
The European Union