From space science to school mental health, and from the circular economy to textile innovation, eight Chilean women are leading projects that cross borders and project the country as a hub of talent, innovation, and sustainability.
As part of International Women's Day, Marca Chile honors the winners of the Marca Chile Award for the third edition of "50 Genias del Año" (50 Geniuses of the Year), an award ceremony held in collaboration with Genias, a social enterprise that promotes the professional development of women in the country.
This distinction is part of Chile País de Mujeres(Chile, Land of Women), a sub-brand of Imagen de Chile that seeks to highlight the role and contributions of Chilean women in building the country.
Who are these eight women?
From New York, Agustina Mir co-founded Sortile, a device that reduces textile fiber identification time by more than six times, using data analysis and artificial intelligence. Its technology optimizes the sorting of recycled clothing and prevents tons of waste from ending up in landfills, providing concrete solutions to the global circular fashion industry.
In the aerospace field, Matilde Gaete, a Chilean astronaut in training and engineering student, became the first young Chilean woman to attend a NASA space camp and the first civilian to enter an astronaut training program run by the Chilean Air Force. Her work promotes the democratization of access to space technology and encourages female participation in STEM fields, raising Chile's profile in international scientific circles.
Science applied to the environment also has a feminine touch. Constanza Escobar, co-founder and Chief Science Officer of Photio, is leading the development of an additive that, when incorporated into materials such as paint, concrete, or asphalt, breaks down polluting gases through a process similar to photosynthesis. This Chilean innovation opens up new possibilities for combating air pollution in cities around the world.
Valery Rodríguez co-founded a circular economy project called IMEKO, the only company in the world that recycles plastic from cigarette butts to transform it into new raw material. Its development, Celion®, is the first high-quality cellulose acetate created from this waste.
Silvana Herrera, a designer, developed a sensory band for detecting obstacles in the field of vision. Her internationally protected invention increases the independence of people with visual impairments and demonstrates how intellectual property can be a tool for inclusion.
In breast health and reconstruction, Beatriz Palma leads My Nipp, an alternative to traditional reconstruction that combines art, science, and technology to develop external prostheses. With a social perspective, her work seeks to expand access to these solutions, forging alliances with foundations and companies to scale up their impact nationally and internationally.
In the socio-emotional sphere, Melania Sanhueza co-founded MÜUD, an early warning application supported by artificial intelligence that allows emotional risks in educational communities to be anticipated and prevented. A finalist in the Singularity + Sync Global Impact Challenge in Digital Wellbeing, her proposal positions Chile in global conversations about technological innovation applied to wellbeing.
Commitment to animal rights and international advocacy are also part of this generation of leaders. Camila Cortínez, founder of the NGO Te Protejo, has been promoting the fight against animal testing in Chile and Latin America for more than a decade. Her organization was recognized with the Lush Prize and has become a regional benchmark in policies and campaigns for a cruelty-free cosmetics industry.
These eight stories reflect a new generation of Chilean female leadership, which is proving to be diverse and globally minded. From different fields, their projects not only respond to current challenges, but also position Chile as a country that promotes talent and solutions with impact.
