The Institute of Mineral Resources Engineering (MRE/RWTH Aachen University) as organizer of the Conference looks back at a long tradition in mining education and mineral resources research in Aachen. For the last 20 years, the Institute has been organizing the Aachen International Mining Symposia by selecting particular topics covering aspects of the production of mineral raw materials. With always more than 200 participants from all over the world, we established one of the major mining Conferences in Europe. The Conference language is English, meeting our international expectations and scope. Scientific lectures, exhibitions by industry, and networking events give multiple opportunities for a professional exchange in science, industry, politics and society within the mining community.