Up to UF 4,000 were awarded to the winning projects of the R&D to Innovate Contest in the first half of 2024, which in addition to obtaining advice on commercial management and business model, as well as intellectual property and regulatory aspects, will be able to access another UF 4,000 if they move forward in the next stages.

The three winning initiatives, from among more than 100 applicants, were Modulo Kala, a biomaterial made from corn waste; Espumógeno Ecológico, a firefighting product that helps fight urban and forest fires; and Cupratherm, a modular thermal energy storage device.

“We are proud to see how projects from different corners of Chile and different industries reflect the breadth of innovation. This diversity reminds us that creativity has no borders and that transformative solutions can be born in any sector,” said Alan Farcas, executive director of the Copec-UC Foundation.