Last week saw the publication of the report prepared by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), commissioned by the Coordinador Eléctrico Nacional, on the February 25 blackout, which once again brings an uncomfortable but unavoidable truth to the table: we tend to forget the fragility of our critical systems until a crisis forces us to face it head-on. And the resilience of that system depends as much on existing infrastructure as on the capacity to innovate constantly.
Power outages not only affect millions of households; they directly impact hospitals, communications, transportation services and people’s safety. In this sense, the analysis of the event should not be limited to identifying technical failures and/or operational responsibilities, but should also examine how the country incorporates innovation to prevent, manage and respond to emergencies.
Monitoring systems based on artificial intelligence that detect vulnerabilities before they escalate, smart grids capable of redirecting energy flows and isolating faults, and simulators for training personnel in critical scenarios are examples of how technological innovation gives us tools to anticipate risks and manage them better.
But beyond technology, innovating also means opening spaces for academia and startups to contribute disruptive solutions to problems that were once considered inevitable. Emergencies like the one on February 25 show that reacting is not enough; they force us to rethink how much we value innovation in critical infrastructure and how much we are investing to prepare for the unthinkable.
Along these lines, we need to build innovation ecosystems that bring together science, industry and the State around the country’s security and resilience.
Emergencies will always be with us; what changes is our ability to face them. The real challenge is not avoiding the inevitable, but being prepared so that its impact is smaller and recovery is faster. In this sense, innovating is no longer an option: it becomes an imperative. Only through innovation can we ensure the continuity and security of the essential services that sustain our life in society.
Fernanda Maldonado
Strategic Alliances Manager, Know Hub Chile
Media outlet: El Pinguino
