Ten teams were selected for the first phase of Avante 2021

For the second consecutive year, this open innovation challenge is being held, organized by the Chilean Navy, Know Hub, and AthenaLab. Two-thirds of the pre-selected teams come from startups, while the remaining third comes from universities. The regional presence is strong, with representatives from Concepción, Viña del Mar, and Temuco.

On Tuesday, September 28, training begins for the 10 pre-selected teams of Avante 2021, an open innovation challenge aimed at solving two problems identified by the Chilean Navy through scientific and technological ventures that could become sophisticated suppliers for the defense sector and the civilian market (dual-use technologies). This initiative is being held for the second consecutive year, organized by the Navy, Know Hub Chile, and AthenaLab.  

Two-thirds of the pre-selected teams come from startups or ventures, while the remaining third comes from universities. One woman leads one of the teams, and the regional presence is strong, with representatives from Concepción, Viña del Mar, and Temuco.

The three organizing institutions of Avante 2021 were part of the evaluation panel. Javier Ramírez, the executive director of Know Hub Chile, participated, along with John Griffiths, Ignacio Mardones, and Fernanda Muñoz from AthenaLab. From the Chilean Navy, Officers Francisco Mackay, Felipe Balmelli, Leonardo Grilli, and Jorge Maldonado were involved. Héctor Reyes and Fernanda Maldonado, representatives from the Chilean Army, also supported the process.

Avante 2021 Agenda, what’s next?

Over four weeks, the ten teams will receive training in the Dual Tech methodology, focusing primarily on beneficiary discovery. In fact, on October 5 and 6, the teams will participate in their first bootcamp. The objective of this process is clear: to deliver a pitch by the end of October. From this, five teams will be selected, which will receive $6,000 to develop their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and will continue with their Dual Tech training for an additional seven weeks. During this stage, they will be supported by a team of experts, facilitators, and mentors responsible for providing methodological and practical tools to the innovators and entrepreneurs participating in the program.

In mid-December, the five teams will present again before a jury of experts to select the two winners. The first place will receive up to $65,000, and the second place will receive up to $55,000. These resources are intended to implement a six-month work plan that allows scaling the MVP and bringing the technology closer to its dual market.

The 10 selected teams and their leaders

How can naval assets be available at any time and place they are needed? This is referred to as Naval Asset Availability, and this year, Avante is focused on solving challenges related to this theme, specifically regarding one of the most difficult naval assets to maintain and sustain over time: ships. There were two challenges that called upon entrepreneurs, researchers, and undergraduate and graduate students: Engineering systems diagnostics, with an emphasis on data analysis and sensorization, and Remote technical assistance, using collaborative tools and augmented reality. The 10 teams embarking on the challenge to address these issues and their leaders are:

• Blue Monster: a platform that enables the integration of hardware, firmware, software, and wireless links for the optimization and automation of data-driven processes. Tzu-Chiang Shen, Blue Monster Engineering startup.
• Collaborative and support tool: remote technical assistance and support for field activities in geographically complex environments. Andrés González, Streltech startup.
• Preventive tool for ship maintenance: a system based on log analysis to support the maintenance of naval and maritime vessels. Andrés Ávila, Universidad de la Frontera.
• JakSol: a predictive and prescriptive maintenance platform for engineering systems, with vital signs measurements to improve planning and management of naval assets. Felipe Bueso, unaffiliated.
• MINERVA: a cross-platform application with tools aimed at increasing the effectiveness of personnel in the field, including a library of procedures, plans, manuals, guides, and videos, along with the capability to make video calls. Ivan Díaz, Innod startup.
• Failure prediction and logistics orchestration: a solution that performs diagnostics and classification of failures in propulsion plants, using statistical analysis and artificial intelligence. Aaron Cassorla, Omnix Corp startup.
• PredictiveLab: a platform for identifying failures in equipment and systems through data processing from monitoring with machine learning algorithms. Viviana Meruane, Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Chile.
• RENAMASS: an integrated diagnostic software that uses artificial intelligence for predictive maintenance, with low-cost and proprietary sensors and a machine learning module. Sergio Vera, InnerCore startup.
• SIDMO: a monitoring and diagnostic platform for engineering systems, through sensorization and data analysis. Daniel Nuñez, Universidad del Desarrollo.
• Zentinel: a solution that seeks to integrate maintenance management in both offline and online modes, through communication systems and software, connecting ground personnel with remote maintenance teams. German Domke, KTI Ingeniería startup.

Source: Chilean Navy