- The 10 shortlisted teams visited two Navy ships to learn in more detail about the problems they must solve in this open innovation challenge. In addition, over the two days they took part in training in the Dual-Tech methodology. Avante is organized by the Chilean Navy, Know Hub Chile and Athena Lab.
This was the first in-person activity for the shortlisted teams of the open innovation challenge organized by the Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile), together with Know Hub Chile and Athena Lab.
It was two intense days full of learning. The activity began with a visit to two Chilean Navy ships: the multipurpose frigate Almirante Riveros and the new ATF-65 Janequeo tug. The purpose was clear: for the innovators to understand the context of the two problems they must solve: “Engineering systems diagnostics” (seven teams) and “Remote technical assistance” (three teams). Most of them saw a ship in detail for the first time: true floating cities, with an enormous amount of equipment and technology
Next, training in the Dual Tech methodology began. The teams took part in a workshop where they defined more precisely the problem they want to solve and their value proposition. Each team was supported by a Navy facilitator —such as Lieutenant Francisca Lema, of the Navy’s Directorate of Programs, Research and Development (Diprida)— and a Know Hub Chile mentor: Jovanka Trebotich Zúñiga, Marcelo González Robles, Taky Parvex Pichaida and Fernando Venegas Calderón. The day ended with a networking activity overlooking the incomparable Valparaíso bay.
The second day
Wednesday started early with a workshop on how to interview the beneficiaries or customers of the technology they are developing. Then came the practical part: interviewing various Chilean Navy personnel to learn about their pain points and the conditions in which their technology would operate.
They quickly had to prepare a presentation of their findings and receive feedback from Know Hub Chile mentors; from Jorge Karadima, a member of our organization’s board; and from the Navy facilitators: Commander Leonardo Grilli and Lieutenant Commander Cristián Rosas, of the Naval Systems Engineering Directorate (Dirisnav); Lieutenant Commander Nicolas Maerz, of the Squadron Support Group; and Lieutenant Commanders Héctor Cifuentes and Álvaro París of the Naval Polytechnic Academy (Apolinav).
This first stage ends in just two weeks, when the 10 teams will deliver a pitch that will allow five of them to move on to the second phase, which will provide them with USD 6,000 to develop a minimum viable product (MVP). They will continue with Dual Tech training, which will begin exploring civilian applications of the technology
Here is the article published by the Chilean Navy about the activity: https://lnkd.in/eFa8v56V
