Sometime during the 2030s, today's main levels in Kiruna and Malmberget will be broken.
If iron ore is to continue to be mined in the mines, it will be at greater depths and under greater rock pressure.
The so-called SUM project is about finding technology that does this in a safe and environmentally sustainable way.
The record-breaking earthquake in the Kiruna mine in April focused on the dilemma of safety.
Another giant to the association
On Tuesday, it became known that the industrial giant Sandvik is joining the association of companies involved in the project.
There are already ABB, Epiroc, Combitech and of course LKAB.
- It is unique that we get together a constellation with five global companies that are admittedly Swedish players, says Markus Petäjäniemi, director of marketing and technology at LKAB.
Miners must avoid the most dangerous areas
Companies will to some extent share their progress in development.
It is crucial for the future of the mines that they succeed.
These include the development of loaders, transport vehicles and drilling rigs that are self-propelled so that miners do not have to be in the most dangerous parts of the mines of the future.
The machines must also be electrically powered to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
The experiments will take place in a test mine that has just been completed in Kiruna.