Innovation, sustainability and global reach are some of the characteristics shared by the winners of the "Strait of Magellan Award for Innovation and Exploration with Global Impact" of Imagen de Chile, which seeks to recognize those Chileans who are making an impact with their creations and contributing with local solutions to major global problems.
The two winners were announced and awarded today in La Moneda, in a ceremony attended by the Chancellor, Andrés Allamand, and other government ministers. In the National category, the winning project was "O-Wind", led by Nicolás Orellana, who created the first truly OMNI-directional wind turbine capable of generating energy from horizontal, vertical and any direction in between, operating where others cannot, such as cities and highways. In the Magallanes category, the winning project was "Cape Horn: A natural laboratory for the world". Headed by Ricardo Rozzi, this work was awarded for its contribution to the research and conservation of the sub-Antarctic biodiversity of Magallanes, with its rediscovery of the so-called Miniature Forests of Cape Horn, the creation of the concept of "natural laboratory" for the Magallanes region, and the promotion of the innovative "Ecotourism with a magnifying glass".
In his speech, the Chancellor pointed out that "just as the discovery of the Strait of Magellan was not the result of chance or luck, but the result of the creativity, perseverance and enterprising soul of Hernando de Magallanes, the invention of the wind turbine by Nicolás Orellana and the transformation of Cape Horn as a center of scientific, technological and tourism development by Ricardo Rozzi are also the product of perseverance and innovation. The award winners embody the same spirit that 500 years ago made Magellan the discoverer of the Strait that bears his name, and Elcano the first man to circumnavigate the earth".
The President of the Republic, Sebastián Piñera, who was present through a video at the event, congratulated and thanked the award winners for their contribution to National Innovation and "for putting Chile at the forefront in the search for solutions for the future of a better world". He also thanked the Chilean Embassies around the world "for the great work they have done in identifying talent, projects and visions".
Along with highlighting the participation of the public through social networks and the work of the Presidential Advisory Council "500 Years Magallanes" in the selection of the finalists and winners, Constanza Cea, executive director of Imagen de Chile praised the level of the participating projects. "We are very pleased with the excellent level of the applicants and especially with the winners, who represent Chilean talent and spirit of exploration and innovation, connected to global needs. Our new 'Magallanes' of the 21st century are world-class innovators who will be great ambassadors of Chile abroad and we will support them in their internationalization. We want the image we project as a country to the outside world to be a true reflection of what our Chileans are: agents of change that today have an impact far beyond our borders," said the hostess.
The winning projects of the Award will be the protagonists of the pieces of diffusion with which Imagen de Chile promotes the country in the world. "The award has meant finding the support of many people, friends, acquaintances and also strangers, who vibrate with what we are proposing and that motivates us to continue working to bring O-Wind to the market. This support also shows the real motivation of people who live in apartments and who want to have the possibility of generating their own energy. Thanks to this award we will be able to demonstrate the interest of people in Chile and the world to be part of this revolution", commented Nicolás Orellana, creator of O-Wind. Ricardo Rozzi, who heads the winning project in the Magallanes category, said that "this award is a milestone that makes the people of Magallanes very happy, because with the Ecotourism with a magnifying glass activity a new way of looking begins that brings with it the inauguration of the Cape Horn Subantarctic Center in Puerto Williams, an international platform to monitor global climate change in which Chile will be a sentinel of climate change in the extreme south of America".
Innovators around the world
In addition to the National and Magallanes categories, this Award has an international recognition to the world's innovators who are contributing with solutions of global impact, who were selected by the Chilean Embassies of various countries from all continents. There were 54 international projects awarded, all from different nations, such as: Germany, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, China and many more. Check the list of international winners here: https://we.tl/t-QBhJ3ls5Pa
Legacy Forest Image of Chile
With the aim of leaving in Chile a trace of all the innovators of the XXI century who participated in this award, Imagen de Chile, through the Reforestemos Foundation, planted a native tree for each of the national projects that applied for this award and for all those who were distinguished with this award around the world. This is how today in the Magallanes Region is shaping the Image of Chile Forest with 150 native trees, a legacy of these "Magallanes of the XXI century" that are contributing and innovating for the future generations of Chile and the world.
To learn more about the work and news of the Chilean projects that won the Strait of Magellan Award for Innovation and Exploration with Global Impact, visit www.marcachile.cl.