The National Research and Development Agency (ANID) announced the results of the Fondef IDeA 2025 Technological Research Competition (Fondef IT), in which two projects submitted by the University of Santiago de Chile obtained funding.
This achievement reflects an increase in institutional participation compared to 2024. Last year, the University submitted 11 applications and secured one award. In this year’s edition, Usach submitted 15 initiatives and obtained two awards, demonstrating its growing commitment to and success in applied research funding among Chilean universities.
The awarded projects, which account for 17% of the institution's total submissions, will manage a global budget of $804,832,000 CLP over a two-year execution period. These initiatives benefit from the support of strategic external partners, including Metro de Santiago and the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC), thereby boosting the potential economic and social impact of Usach’s technological developments.
For the submission of R&D projects, the research teams in our faculty are actively supported by the Office of Technology Management, which operates under the Vice-Rector's Office for Research, Innovation, and Creation (VRIIC).
"We work together with the university's faculties and research centers, developing a joint and ongoing effort to accompany researchers in all stages of the process. This has allowed us not only to maintain or increase the number of applications, but also to increase the number of awards," says Rodrigo Morgado Contardo, director of Technology Management.
The Fondef IT Competition aims to develop and validate science and technology-based solutions that require scaling stages, reaching advanced levels of maturity for their application in the market.
Awarded Projects
Both selected initiatives belong to the Faculty of Engineering and are as follows:
1. “ Applying big data, time series, and classification algorithms to identify vulnerable consumers through electricity meter records.”
This project is led by Dr. Humberto Verdejo of the Department of Electrical Engineering, partnering with the Superintendency of Electricity and Fuels (SEC). Its objective is to develop an interactive information platform that models and characterizes residential electricity meter behavior using time series and big data algorithms. The system’s capabilities will include identifying vulnerable electricity users, projecting disaggregated demand consumption, and validating data provided by distributors.
2. “Scaling of the dynamic vibration absorber system applied to the mitigation of noise induced in railway tracks.”
The project, led by Dr. Roberto Ortega (Department of Mechanical Engineering) in partnership with the Santiago Metro, aims to mitigate railway vibration-induced noise. This will be accomplished by validating a dynamic vibration absorption system that has been installed on the rails for testing under real operational use.
With these awards, Usach reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation applied in strategic areas for the country, contributing to the sustainability of transportation and improving the quality of life of the population through electrical energy solutions.