Our colleague, Dr. Cecilia Fuentealba Becerra, received the Outstanding Woman in Technology Transfer Award from Dr. Apolinaria García Cancino, winner of the previous version.

Last Thursday, January 11, the Hacienda Patagonia was dressed up as a party to recognize and celebrate the significant contribution of researchers, entrepreneurs, academics and businessmen in the transfer of knowledge through the “Science with Impact Awards 2022-2023”, organized by the Vice Rector’s Office for Research and Development (VRID) through the Office of Transfer and Licensing (OTL UdeC).

The event was attended by regional and university authorities, including the Rector of the University, Dr. Carlos Saavedra Rubilar, and the Vice Rector for Research and Development, Dr. Andrea Rodríguez Tastet, as well as the Seremi of Economy, Development and Tourism of Biobío, Javier Sepúlveda Sepúlveda, and other academic directors, such as the Director of Research and Artistic Creation, Dr. Ronald Mennickent Cid; and the Director of Development and Innovation, Dr. Jorge Carpinelli Pavisich.

The transfer of knowledge, integrated as part of the University’s third mission, is presented as a priority that complements its role as an institution that trains highly qualified professionals and generates innovative research. This approach requires the continuous articulation and strengthening of trust between diverse actors, from academics to entrepreneurs.

The Rector highlighted the University’s relationship with the community and emphasized the fundamental link it maintains through various activities. He also congratulated the OTL UdeC team, led by its Executive Director Andrea Catalán Lobos, for having been awarded last December the funding of the contest “Support for the Consolidation of Transfer and Licensing Offices”, of ANID: “It is not only a good result, but three more years that guarantee funding that allows the accompaniment of excellence, quality in all patenting and licensing processes,” said Rector Saavedra, adding: “This construction of new languages makes us move from the traditional in terms of the way we make known our results of creation and generation of knowledge in all areas, in all the knowledge of the University, in all areas of knowledge, and as we see, today they are incorporated in these recognitions.”

The ceremony, beyond recognizing individual achievements, aims to make visible the arduous path that inventors travel, from the conception of an idea to its materialization in a product, knowledge or capacity, with the power to transform the environment. The different categories of recognition represent significant milestones achieved by researchers of the Universidad de Concepción in this exciting journey towards innovation and impact.

The Seremi of Economy of Biobío, Javier Sepúlveda Sepúlveda, said: “we have many challenges that together seek to move towards a new model of sustainable productive development, which delivers, of course, greater opportunity for our regional companies, job creation, but also positive prospects for the inhabitants of our region. And the truth is that none of this is possible without science, technology, knowledge and innovation”.

For her part, the Seremi de Ciencia Macrozona Centro Sur, Dr. Sofía Valenzuela Águila, although she was unable to attend the ceremony, sent a video message to the attendees, in which she emphasized that: “For us, as the Ministry of Science, it is a joy to see this type of initiative, which rewards and recognizes the work done by researchers from this university, who have done science that has a direct impact on our territory, on the different communities, generating welfare for our society. These are the kind of initiatives that we want to increase and multiply, since we know that the science generated within the universities has to permeate and reach our entire community”.

For her part, the National Director of ANID, Alejandra Pizarro Guerrero, also sent a video with an emotional message to all the attendees, especially to the Social Sciences: “I deeply appreciate that the best experiences of knowledge transfer in areas such as Social Sciences, Humanities and Education are awarded, highlighting the work of academics from your house of study, whose research has transcended the productive and social development at regional, national and international levels. The Science with Impact awards are a very good way of showing concrete examples of success, which serve as a model of inspiration for the academic community”.

Finally, Dr. Jorge Carpinelli, Director of Development and Innovation UdeC thanked Andrea Catalán and her team for designing and executing the seventh version of the Science with Impact Awards: “It is very important to emphasize and remember that our university recognizes since its origin, more than 100 years ago, the fundamental importance of maintaining a permanent link with our social and productive environment”. The director valued the fact that researchers are in contact with the concrete reality of the country, actively participating in the transformation of the productive matrix towards innovation and the promotion of science and technology-based entrepreneurship. “This allows us to meet in a different way the needs that society and the productive sector demand from us today, in order to contribute to well-being through equitable, sustainable and sustainable progress”.

And the winners are…

The ceremony presented awards to those who achieved milestones during the 2022-2023 period. Thus, 16 awards were presented to copyright applications, 25 patent applications, and 19 licenses were granted, consolidating the commitment to research and development, underlining the successful transfer of knowledge to various sectors. These results reflect the dynamism and excellence that characterize UdeC in the field of intellectual property.

In this seventh version, the Strategic Plan for Science and Innovation 2030 (Science 2023) wanted to recognize researchers from the faculties attached to this initiative, for their role in innovation and entrepreneurship. On the occasion, Dr. Claudia Pérez Manríquez, from the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Oceanography, and Dr. Apolinaria García Cancino, from the Faculty of Biological Sciences, were recognized.

Finally, in the 6 main categories, OTL UdeC awarded the achievements during the period 2022-2023, which reflect the tireless effort and positive impact that characterizes the university community, recognizing those whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the academic and technological landscape.

The winners are:

Social Sciences, Humanities and Education Award: María José Solís Grant was distinguished with her initiative “Educational Inclusion in Higher Education Institutions: what do their members think?”

Innovative Start-Up Award, LIVA Company received this recognition for its courage in embarking on new paths.

UdeC Sustainability Award, for the Online Rheometer, developed in collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering and the company Konatec.

Outstanding Woman in Technology Transfer Award to Dr. Cecilia Fuentealba Becerra of the Technological Development Unit (UDT), from Dr. Apolinaria García Cancino, winner of the previous version.

Technology Transfer Award, licensed for 2022-2023:

The Faculty of Biological Sciences celebrated the recognition of Dr. Apolinaria García Cancino.

UdeC Impact Award 2022-2023, to the Local Water Monitoring System (SIMOL), created by researcher Noelia Carrasco Henríquez of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts.

Source: UdeC News