Last week, CRU’s Santiago office welcomed the finalists of the CRU Academic Challenge: Copper 2026. Designed to reflect the complexity of the copper industry, the challenge gives students in Chile a real-world opportunity to think like project developers, analysts, and decision-makers. The depth and quality of the final presentations made one thing clear: the future of the sector is in capable hands. The winning team will be announced on Monday, 13th April, during the World Copper Conference in Santiago, Chile.
The CRU Academic Challenge brought together 11 teams from five universities across Antofagasta, Concepción, and Santiago, giving high-potential students the opportunity to tackle a real mining industry challenge. Using exclusive CRU data on prices, projects, and costs, participants analysed a mining project from scratch and developed an investment recommendation based on technical, economic, and strategic criteria.
Following an anonymous evaluation of the reports and calculation models submitted at the end of February, the three finalist teams were selected to present their proposals in person before a jury on 13 April.
After weeks of dedicated work during their summer break, the student teams presented their conceptual copper projects — each one built from the ground up using CRU data and guided by a rigorous framework that balanced technical, economic, and social-environmental considerations.
The three finalist teams chosen for the CRU Academic Challenge are
- Andesita Team, from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile: Vicente Astorga, Vicente Medina Lagos, and Lucas Benjamín Pizarro Vásquez
- TVM Group, from Universidad de Chile: Martín Palma Rodríguez, Vicente Montaner Tartakowsky, and Tomás Báez
- Andes Mining Group, from Universidad de Santiago de Chile: Brayan Oyarzún Aceituno, Felipe Jeria Maldonado, and Catalina Ramirez
Their presentations were assessed by CRU experts Nicolas Muñoz, Nicolás Rojas, and Juan Brihet, alongside external judges, Francisco Rojas Ohmke (Copper Technical Manager Chile at Rio Tinto), Victor Parra Gandolfo (Mining and Geosciences Manager at Anglo American) and Reinaldo Salazar Grondona (Research Director at Sociedad Nacional de Minería).
Regarding the challenge, Francisco Rojas Ohmke commented, "It is incredibly rewarding to see how well-prepared these students are. As they enter their final year, seeing their vision for the mining market and the diverse skills they’ve developed at university is inspiring. For those of us with years in the industry, this challenge highlights where we can best support their growth. These multidisciplinary exercises reveal where academic focuses lie and foster a healthy competition that 'raises the bar' for university curricula—ensuring students are truly aligned with the most critical aspects of mining project evaluation."
The practical insights of the judges helped bridge the gap between classroom learning and the realities of the mining industry, giving participants valuable exposure to the standards and thinking that shape the sector today.
Looking ahead to the World Copper Conference
The competition now moves to its final and most exciting chapter, where the winner will be revealed during the World Copper Conference, a key meeting point for industry leaders. Alongside recognising the next generation of copper talent on a global stage, the conference will also bring together innovation, analysis, and industry knowledge in one place.
The CRU Academic Challenge is a reminder that the copper industry’s future depends on the ideas, capabilities, and curiosity of emerging professionals. We are proud to support a programme that encourages students to engage with the real challenges facing the sector and to develop the confidence to help solve them.
We look forward to celebrating the winning team at the World Copper Conference and to continuing the conversation about the future of copper with colleagues, partners, and clients from across the industry.
