The institution and Know Hub invite proposals for Desafío Avante 04. The technology of the Antarctic icebreaker Almirante Viel incorporated solutions that emerged from these calls.
The Chilean military industry has a long history, dating back to the early years of the Republic. Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejercito (FAMAE), for example, was created in 1811 by the National Congress, making it the oldest company in Chile and Latin America. Its creations include the flare pistol (B-100) and the Galil assault rifle (ACE 22 N-C).
Since then, in a world that is always challenging in terms of security, and today with new standards in technology and sustainability, the need to discover and implement new ideas has become essential.
That is precisely what Desafío Avante 04 is about: the new edition of an open innovation program implemented by the Chilean Navy (Armada de Chile) and Know Hub. Its goal is to boost the search for technological solutions that contribute to modernizing shipbuilding, in areas such as automation, sustainability, robotics and advanced materials technology.
To this end, startups are invited to submit projects. If selected, they will receive financial support and mentoring from naval industry experts, a process in which they will also get support to scale their solutions nationally and internationally. The technological solutions will be tested and validated at the Asmar shipyards.
“Developing innovative solutions that address real challenges in shipbuilding will strengthen not only the shipyards and the Navy, but also Chile’s technological and industrial capabilities,” said Francisca Lema, head of Plans at the Chilean Navy’s Technological Innovation Center (CITA).
The call covers three areas. Sustainable Shipbuilding, which seeks innovations that reduce the environmental impact of shipbuilding and increase the energy efficiency of vessels.
A second area is Automation and Optimization, focused on developing automated systems that improve vessel assembly and maintenance processes. Finally, there is Advanced manufacturing for shipbuilding, focused on creating new lightweight, strong and durable materials.
The construction of the Antarctic icebreaker Almirante Viel, in service since July 2024, incorporated solutions that emerged from these calls.
Héctor Cifuentes, innovation coordinator at Know Hub Chile, highlights Desafío Avante “for its contribution to finding new forms of collaboration between the naval industry and science- and technology-based startups.” This, he adds, fosters the development in Chile of new and better solutions for the construction process.
Applications for Desafío Avante will remain open until March 6 of this year. Two winning teams will be chosen, and each will receive CLP 35 million to develop its technological solution. They will also have the opportunity to access a softlanding in the United States or Colombia, depending on their needs. More information at https://desafioavante.cl
PROGRAM MILESTONES
–Know Hub and the Navy have been boosting dual innovation in Chile since 2019 through this open innovation initiative that seeks solutions for the defense sector.
–In 2022, Know Hub developed the Fortis Challenge, which called on Chilean universities to seek innovations in the use of Lockheed Martin’s Fortis exoskeleton.
–In 2023, Know Hub and CITA created Proa I+D, a program that collaborated with researchers by providing them with spaces to carry out research of mutual interest. The innovation center has also supported the technological development of the Chilean Air Force with the Ad Astra Platform.
Read the original article at https://eldiarioinmobiliario.cl/noticias/armada-de-chile-busca-startups-para-desarrollar-infraestructura-naval-sostenible/
