Fondef Fund for the Promotion of Scientific and Technological

[18-10-2012] Researchers from several universities received diplomas that certify as winners of XIX Annual R & D Competition Fondef-CONICYT, Contest IV Fondef Regional Program and Contest II Exploitation of Research at the University.

In a ceremony held at the Centro Cultural La Moneda Palace, National Commission for Scientific and Technological, CONICYT, through its program Fondef, officially delivered certificates of awards the XIX Annual R & D of Fondef-CONICYT, Program of the Contest IV and II Fondef Regional Contest Exploitation of Research at the University.

The meeting, which was attended by José Miguel Aguilera, President of CONICYT, Sergio Lavanchy, Rector of the University of Concepción, Gonzalo Herrera, Fondef executive director and a group of prominent university authorities-, was an opportunity to highlight the work of researchers consolidated and new promises, with its applied research projects aimed at improving the quality of life of the population.

The rector of the University of Concepción, Sergio Lavanchi, with President of CONICYT, José Miguel Aguilera, academic institutions and authorities.

For the XIX Annual R & D of Fondef-CONICYT, received 232 Applications, finally clinching almost total $ 8 billion for the implementation of 27 projects that aim to encourage the competitiveness of the national economy and improving the quality of life of the population. These include initiatives to cancer treatment; management research images that generate astronomical observatories; syncytial virus vaccines; alternatives for monitoring red tide based on biotechnology, inter alia.

In this version of the competition, highlighted areas such as manufacturing and health with seven projects each. For projects awarded, 11 respond to the type called Public Interest and 16 precompetitive type projects. Also, Notably 16 initiatives (approximately 60% total) correspond to ideas generated at regional universities, presented their projects individually or together with other institutions.

Gonzalo Herrera said that "the level of applications shows a sustained interest in the applied R & D. There were high quality projects, but aside part of the budget due to the competition IDeA Program Applied Science, to replace this contest and is under evaluation, surpassing all our expectations for applications ".

Second Contest VIU

Moreover, the second version of the Contest Exploitation of Research at the University (VIU), resources awarded to 34 selected proposals, with contributions amounting to the 2 million pesos, which shall be used for the formulation of business plans and working. This corresponds to the first stage of the competition and the funds given by Fondef equivalent to 90% the cost of this phase. Later, those selected have 2 months to carry out their plans and, if approved, continue with the second stage of the competition, where they can aspire to a maximum grant of 24 million pesos for materializing the initiative.

"The Second Contest VIU is a concrete example of the strategy is conducting CONICYT for university students are able to link science, technology and entrepreneurship research results leading to new competitive products or companies, representing a boost to the country's development ", said Executive Director Fondef.

Also, Fondef Program established for Contest VIU an alliance with science company DuPont. Like the previous year, the company awarded the best project presented in the first stage of the contest with $ 10 thousand plus a trip for the student and the teacher leads a research and development center of the company.

Prize winner Fondef-DuPont, Joice León, with Gonzalo Herrera, CEO Fondef, y Jennifer Uribe, DuPont general gerente Chile.

This time, the winner was Leon Cortes Joice, Catholic University of the North, with his project "biosurfactants from hydrocarbon degraders native microorganisms for applications in remediation and mining processes". Also, two honorable mentions were awarded to projects PharmScan Transporter: platform for the creation and analysis of molecular docking applied to mass transport proteins ", Alexis Salas (University of Concepción), Development of a screening tool based on genes for growth salmonid fish body, Phillip Dettleff (Universidad de Chile).

 

Note that in both contests, University of Concepcion scored a major representation 12 VIU and projects 8 XIX projects in R & D.