The contest financially supports the execution of scientific and technological research projects, with potential economic and/or social impact, whose results are obtained, evaluated and validated in short periods of time.

With a large attendance of researchers, the dissemination talk of the next FONDEF-CONICYT IDeA Competition was held at the University of La Serena, organized by the Research and Development Directorate, attached to the ULS Vice-Rector's Office for Research and Postgraduate Studies.

During the presentation, led by the FONDEF project executive, Andrea Hinojosa, details of this IDeA (Research and Development in Action) Contest were provided, which financially supports the execution of scientific and technological research projects, with potential economic and/or impact. social, whose results are obtained, evaluated and validated in short periods of time.

The annual competitions and calls are: IDeA R&D, whose final objective is to carry out a proof of concept (PDC) of a product, process or service, that is, validate a prototype (with applications from January to April); and Technological Research, so that from the PDC, the development of the product/process/service is continued and thus achieve a result closer to the definitive application and develop massification and commercialization strategies (with applications between August and September).

The professional emphasized that the contest seeks to support those projects “that have previous antecedents that support a hypothesis of application” of a technology, product or service, and that, with the development of the research, achieve validation through a test of concept at prototype level within two years.  

Another novelty of the contest is that it will have thematic areas: Older Adults, Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and Food Safety and Quality.

The FONDEF project executive indicated that the rules of the 2018 contest are available on the website http://www.conicyt.cl/fondef/.

The activity took place in the Alejandro Covarrubias room of the Central House.