Prize for ingenuity: UCM distinguishes innovative theses

enero 31, 2025

The first place in the “Do your Thesis in Innovation” contest went to a group of students who addressed the degradation of tires.

Four research projects that promise solutions to environmental challenges won the contest “Do your Thesis in Innovation”, promoted by the Universidad Católica del Maule (UCM) among its students.

The initiative, led by the Innovation, Development and Technology Transfer Department of the campus (DIDTT, in Spanish), seeks to promote new ideas and strengthen the productive matrix of the institution. This year, the call, now in its eighth version, received 31 applications.

“These are innovative projects based on very pertinent concrete problems. I want to congratulate the students who have dared and also the professors who have stimulated them and provided a sort of ecosystem for this to take place and grow,” said the rector of the university, Dr. Claudio Rojas, who led the awards ceremony.

The first place went to a group of Biotechnology Engineering students, whose proposal deals with the degradation of tires through enzymes.

“Our career is strongly linked to innovation, but it does require the support of a tutor and talks that reinforce the innovation bug, because when the bibliographic review is done, one observes that there are gaps where it is possible to complement and reach complete solutions. Every brilliant experiment starts with imagination, so you have to dare to dream and take the plunge,” said Josefa Rojas, one of the winners.

Her partner, Belén Orellana, highlighted the value of minimizing the environmental impact of the tire industry, which discards 6.6 million units annually in Chile. “What we are looking for is the degradation of the tire after its useful life, to later, with what is obtained, convert it into something that has another use; generate other polymers to produce, for example, latex gloves,” she stressed.

The team, which is under the supervision of Rodrigo Andler, PhD in Biotechnology, also includes the participation of student Camila Guajardo.

In second and third places, the DIDTT recognized students Joseph Reyes and Fernanda Espinoza, whose research is directed by Rodrigo Morales, PhD in Bioresource Science Engineering.

The university’s Director of Innovation, Development and Technology Transfer, Fabiola Loyola, said: “We will provide permanent support to our managers to apply for competitions and develop videos and their business models and, if awarded, they will receive support from the Entrepreneurship Unit to look for possible future lines of business”.

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