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The competition's main theme was “The Evolution to the Golden Generation: Empowering Youth for a Sustainable Mining Future.” Rauda and Jilan chose to focus on the sub-theme of mining economics and policy, which aligns with their interests and Final Project topics in mineral economics.

This victory feels particularly special as it was achieved through an extraordinary struggle. "Honestly, our preparation was not perfectly thorough because the topic we chose was quite challenging, plus we were busy with a major mine planning project, and Jilan herself is in a fast-track program," said Rauda. The peak of their challenge was completing the entire paper on the very day of the submission deadline, June 23, 2025.

Despite initial doubts, the team successfully advanced to the final round, outperforming 19 other teams to become one of the top five finalists. "This victory is proof that even with a seemingly packed schedule, we could still adapt and produce a paper that won an award," added Jilan.

The core innovation that led them to victory was the concept of a comprehensive ecosystem to achieve the Net Zero Emission (NZE) 2060 target in the mining sector. Their research offers a new breakthrough that includes impactful institutional and financial innovations.

The oposed strategy consists of four main pillars:

• Carbon Tax: Encouraging the maximum implementation of existing carbon tax regulations in Indonesia.

• Standardized Net Zero Emission Audits and Consulting: Involving independent third parties to ensure the accuracy of emissions data according to international standards.

• Integration into the Carbon Market: Creating financial incentives for companies that successfully reduce carbon emissions.

• Net Zero Emission Insurance: Providing financial protection to attract corporate investment in green technology.

Full support from the academic community was a key factor in their success. The Head of the ITB Mining Engineering Study Program, Dr. Eng Fadhila Achmadi Rosyid S.T., M.T., who also served as their supervising lecturer, actively provided critiques and suggestions to perfect their abstract and paper.

After this victory, Rauda and Jilan are motivated to continue reading, developing innovations, and hope to win other competitions before they graduate.

To conclude, Rauda shared an encouraging message for fellow students. "It's never too late to enter a competition, and don't be pessimistic at the start. Keep your spirits up even if you fail, because that experience is invaluable for winning the next one!" Rauda concluded.