The eight teams shortlisted for the open innovation challenge organized by the Chilean Navy and Know Hub Chile went through two days of intense activities, getting a close look at the defense institution’s preventive medicine problem along with the methodological knowledge to solve it with their science- and technology-based solutions.
On Wednesday, March 8, in Valparaíso, aboard the Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) frigate Lynch, the eight teams shortlisted for Desafío Avante 3 began the first of two days of in-person bootcamp for this open innovation initiative organized by the Chilean Navy and Know Hub Chile.
On the first day, the teams learned more about the Chilean Navy and the problem they must solve related to the institution’s preventive medicine. They toured the frigate Lynch and took part in workshops on the methodology to be used in the program, led by Know Hub Chile mentors Jovanka Trebotich, technology transfer coordinator, and Taky Parvex and Patricia Arenas, technology transfer analysts. The activities ended with a networking event at the Club Naval de Valparaíso.
On the second day of activities, Thursday, March 9, the teams toured the preventive medicine facilities in Valparaíso and then traveled to the Hospital Naval Almirante Nef in Viña del Mar, the Chilean Navy’s largest hospital, known for its high complexity, its mixed staff of naval personnel and civilian professionals, and for covering every medical specialty.
Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile, highlighted some of the science-based startups (EBCTs) that have gone through previous editions of Avante and have had a dual impact, that is, they have made it to the civilian market. “We have, for example, Innercore, from the first edition, which is already internationalizing and selling in other markets. Also Acústica Marina, which is implementing its technology at a mining company. The EBCTs that take part in Avante, in addition to their connection with the Chilean Navy, where they manage to validate their technology, also open doors across the entire public and private system,” he said.
Preventive medicine
Avante 3 focuses on modernizing the preventive medicine model based on data, so that the Chilean Navy has physically and psychologically healthy personnel to carry out the tasks and missions entrusted to it by the State.
Chile’s health system covers approximately 20 million people: 63.5% are in Fonasa, 16% in Isapres, and the Armed Forces account for 2.6% of the total, of which the Chilean Navy represents 0.65%. The naval beneficiary population is over 100,000 people, of whom retirees represent 31% and retirees’ dependents 21%. Active personnel account for 22% and their dependents 24%.
The Head of Preventive Medicine, Commander Eugenio Álvarez, notes that the role of Naval Health in general is to have fit, healthy sailors who can fulfill the function established by the State and by command: “We need personnel who are physically and mentally fit. Our role is to select and keep personnel physically and psychologically fit through this Preventive Medicine Service, a unit of the Health Division, which is responsible for preventing, detecting and reducing risk factors so we can keep our crews as healthy as possible.”
Know Hub Chile and Chilean Navy alliance
Desafío Avante was born from the alliance between the Chilean Navy and Know Hub Chile. It is a joint effort, says Know Hub Chile’s executive director, that has grown stronger year after year, “with exceptional results, within a general context that is the Naval Shipbuilding Plan and an even broader, long-term context, which is building a knowledge-based society and economy.”
“In this case, the Chilean Navy is an exceptional ally, and we believe that, thanks to its leadership, other branches of the Armed Forces are working in this area, as are certified defense companies,” adds Ramírez.
Each edition of Desafío Avante brings in more participants, and the selected teams work with greater dedication and achieve better results. “Every time we work together, we improve the technology and learn more from the startups. The entire science, technology and innovation ecosystem is getting to know the capabilities and contributions the Chilean Navy can make to the country in this particular area, beyond its defense mission. This just keeps growing. We have high hopes: we are on Avante 3, but we are already thinking about Avante 4,” he says.
Working with science- and technology-based startups, and in innovation in general, is a complex task. Both Know Hub Chile and the Chilean Navy understand, says Ramírez, that this work cannot be done alone: “we need our ally.”
In Desafío Avante, Know Hub Chile’s work has focused on giving startups the methodological knowledge they need to target the dual market, that is, “so that the innovative technologies achieved through Avante enter the civilian market, understanding that this is not just about building a good business, but about supporting startups so that the solutions developed for the Navy and defense in general also have other customers, allowing them to thrive and keep providing that service or delivering that product to the Navy,” he says.
The second bootcamp of Desafío Avante 3 will take place in April with the four selected teams.
