September 9, 2026 - Innovative Wireless Technologies, Inc. (IWT), a Lynchburg, Virginia-based technology company, has been selected for a $17.7 million federal grant aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of advanced mining technologies in the United States.

The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation and will support a four-year project focused on autonomous operations, connected systems and artificial intelligence in mining.

The initiative, known as “Building the Mine of the Future: A Real-World Proving Ground for Autonomous Operations, Connected Systems & AI-Driven Mining Innovation,” is expected to have a total project value of approximately $25 million. IWT and its project partners will provide funding for the portion not covered by the federal award.

A key goal of the project is to establish a national-scale testing environment where emerging mining technologies can be evaluated under actual operating conditions. The Department of Energy said the effort will include a site in Blacksburg, Virginia, along with an underground location in Idaho Springs, Colorado.

IWT CEO Eric Hansen said the selection builds on the company’s more than 20 years of developing technology intended to improve safety, connectivity and access to information across the mining industry.

Hansen said the project also closely matches IWT’s long-term vision for mining operations that increasingly rely on intelligent systems and real-time data. Working with government, academic and industry partners, the company plans to use the initiative to advance technologies that can improve mine safety and operational awareness while strengthening the competitiveness of the U.S. mining sector.

The project brings together a group of academic, industry and training organizations, including Colorado School of Mines, Virginia Tech, the West Virginia Training and Conference Center, the University of Kentucky, Device Solutions and Phillips Global.

Workforce preparation will also be a major component of the initiative. IWT said the program will provide opportunities for hands-on instruction, certification and collaborative research to help prepare miners and other industry workers for operations that increasingly incorporate automation, connected equipment and data-driven technology.

By providing real-world environments for testing and training, the Mine of the Future project is intended to help move emerging technologies from research and development into practical mining applications more quickly.