ANID has awarded up to US$30,000 per network to finance collaborative research linking Chilean institutions across all regions with foreign partners, prioritizing macro-regional strategic areas and Antarctic science. The one-year networks must foster inter- and trans-disciplinary cooperation among national and international scientists, technologists and innovators to boost multi-sector knowledge internationalization throughout Chile.
Full Professor Claudia Prieto of the Department of Electrical Engineering will lead a new Chilean–Swiss research network aimed at developing a low-field (0.55 T) magnetic resonance system to quantify liver fat, fibrosis, inflammation, and iron content through a single 3D scan. The consortium—comprising Universidad de Valparaíso, EPFL, and the Université de Lausanne—also includes René Botnar, Full Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Director of the Institute of Biological and Medical Engineering. Once validated, the system will enable “virtual biopsies” for patients with metabolic fatty liver disease, reducing costs and addressing regional disparities in diagnosis. Research activities will involve doctoral exchange visits to Switzerland, bilateral workshops, and the development of open-source applications for use in resource-limited hospitals.
RED-RESCUE: INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR SEISMIC-HYDROLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION IN TIMBER CONSTRUCTION
Assistant Professor Diego Valdivieso from the Department of Construction Engineering & Management will lead a new international collaboration with researchers from UC, Universidad del Bío-Bío, the University of Colorado Boulder, and UCL (University College London) to establish a global research hub focused on timber-structure resilience. Using the city of San Pedro de la Paz as a primary case study, the project aims to develop a functional-performance framework for quantifying post-disaster recovery. Research will involve light-frame wall testing and the development of advanced loss models to assess structural performance. The initiative will include two graduate students undertaking co-supervised internships abroad, with findings to be presented at the 13th National Conference on Earthquake Engineering. Collaboration will be further strengthened through a Chilean workshop, joint publications, and an open-access platform designed to transfer results effectively to both academia and industry.
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION NETWORK TO STRENGTHEN RENEWABLE HYDROGEN AND CO₂ VALORIZATION CAPABILITIES
Assistant Professor Elodie Blanco from the Departments of Chemical & Bioprocess Engineering and Construction Engineering & Management will serve as an associate researcher in an international network focused on converting captured CO₂ into green methanol. This collaboration leverages single-atom catalysts (SACs), a pivotal technology for enabling a circular carbon economy. Partnering with Spain’s Institute of Chemical Technology (ITQ) and Colombia’s Universidad Industrial de Santander, the network will train students in advanced catalyst synthesis and characterization. Activities will include research exchanges, joint workshops, and the pursuit of collaborative funding opportunities. The initiative aims to strengthen expertise in renewable hydrogen and carbon valorization, positioning Chile as a regional reference in climate-change mitigation technologies.
SUSTAINABLE CIRCULAR STRATEGIES FOR AGRO-INDUSTRIAL WASTE TRANSFORMATION AND POLLUTION REMEDIATION IN CHILE
Associate Professor Ignacio Vargas from the Department of Hydraulic & Environmental Engineering will collaborate with researchers in the Maule region to convert five million tons of annual organic waste—from agriculture, agro-industry, and forestry—into sustainable products such as pellets, biogas, bioethanol, and biodiesel. The network, which includes UC, Universidad del Maule, and international research centers, will work to measure volatile organic compound and odor emissions, remediate contaminated soil and water, and evaluate the economic and life-cycle impacts of these processes. Through internships, workshops, and partnerships with regional ministerial offices, producers, and entrepreneurs, the project will transfer clean technologies and establish the Central-South macro-zone as a benchmark for sustainable agriculture and the bioeconomy.
mmWAVE AND SUB-THz WIRELESS DETECTION NETWORK
Assistant Professor Miguel Gutiérrez from the Department of Electrical Engineering will join a consortium to build Latin America’s first millimeter-wave (mmWave) and sub-terahertz (sub-THz) radar network. This system, operating at 28, 60, and 140 GHz frequencies, will be capable of detecting and locating objects in complex environments. The collaboration brings together researchers from UC, PUCV, and USACH, alongside international partners Nokia Bell Labs and Columbia University. Using equipment installed in both Chile and the U.S., the team will develop advanced wireless-propagation models to enhance applications in security, environmental monitoring, and defense. The initiative includes dual-Ph.D. supervision, extensive field measurements, and direct technology transfer to national companies. This project aims to position Chile as a leading hub for high-frequency sensor technology and innovation for Industry 4.0.
These new collaboration networks reaffirm how the UC School of Engineering engages the world to tackle the country’s strategic challenges with the support of ANID and international institutions that contribute cutting-edge capabilities to develop advanced research with shared goals and benefits.
