About Callio Lab

Scientific collaboration and innovation

Callio Lab is a scientific facilitator and collaboration partner specialising in underground research, applied sciences, technology development and industrial innovation. Associated with the University of Oulu, Callio Lab promotes multidisciplinary research and innovation by connecting researchers, technology developers, industrial partners and other stakeholders.

Through its extensive national and international collaboration networks, Callio Lab helps identify potential research and project partners, develop collaborative initiatives and explore opportunities for scientific experimentation, technology testing and piloting.

A unique research and innovation environment

Callio Lab conducts research activities at the Pyhäsalmi Mine in Pyhäjärvi, Finland, where the former mining environment offers distinctive opportunities for research, development and innovation. The site combines extensive surface infrastructure, industrial facilities and selected accessible underground spaces, providing a versatile environment for developing, testing and validating new technologies under realistic conditions.

The mine’s underground environment offers particular advantages for research requiring substantial rock overburden, controlled environmental conditions or access to specialised underground infrastructure. At the same time, the wider mine site provides opportunities for industrial research, digitalisation, automation, environmental monitoring, sensing technologies and the demonstration of innovative solutions.

Research and innovation projects such as H2020 GOLDENEYE and HEU MINE.IO have demonstrated the site’s potential as a testing and piloting environment for emerging technologies and data-driven applications. Building on these experiences, Callio Lab promotes opportunities for new multidisciplinary research activities and collaborative projects that make use of the site’s distinctive characteristics.

Facility access and collaboration

Callio Lab does not own, manage or commercially provide the mine facilities. Facility availability, access permissions and rental agreements are managed by the responsible site organisations, particularly Pyhäjärven Callio (https://callio.info/), which holds the relevant rights to provide the facilities for external use.

Callio Lab welcomes enquiries concerning potential scientific, research and innovation activities at the site. We can help explore the scientific and technical feasibility of proposed activities, identify potential research and project partners through our extensive national and international networks, and support the development of collaborative research initiatives.

From deep mining to research and innovation

The Pyhäsalmi Mine has a long history as one of Europe’s deepest underground base-metal mines. Mining operations began in 1962, and the mine subsequently developed into a major copper, zinc and pyrite production site, eventually reaching a depth of approximately 1,445 metres.

Underground ore production ceased in August 2022, marking the beginning of a gradual transition from active mining towards mine closure and alternative uses of the existing infrastructure. Access to the deeper underground levels has since been discontinued, while selected underground facilities remain accessible down to approximately 660 metres, subject to operational and safety restrictions.

The mine’s transition offers opportunities to build upon decades of industrial investment, technical expertise and scientific experience. Callio Lab contributes to this development by promoting the scientific reuse of the site and facilitating research collaborations that explore the potential of former mining environments for science, technology and industrial innovation.