Carolina Parra, a researcher at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and CCTVal, received the award for her outstanding work in the development of high-efficiency nanostructured anodes for electrowinning processes in mining.
Claudia Márquez Rojas, USM Communications.-The researcher from the Federico Santa María Technical University, Dr. Carolina Parra, was the winner of the first version of the Leading Women in Technological Innovation Award, delivered by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INAPI) and the Network of Technological Managers of Chile (RedGT).
Dr. Parra was the winner of the “Outstanding Woman in Technology Transfer” category, which seeks to recognize and highlight a professional who, through technological development and its subsequent transfer, has managed to generate an outstanding impact in the field of application. .
The researcher from the USM Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Valparaíso Scientific and Technological Center (CCTVAL) received this award thanks to her outstanding work in the development of efficient and sustainable nanostructured anodes to be used in the mining industry.
The technology, developed at the USM Nanobiomaterials Laboratory, is capable of reducing the energy consumption associated with the copper electrowinning process by 30%, replacing the current technology of lead anodes and correcting the health and environmental problems that this use entails
“I am very happy to receive this award. It is a very valuable acknowledgment for me, for a career dedicated to technology transfer, and it is an injection of energy to move forward”, stated Dr. Parra, who also pointed out that “we are also happy as an interdisciplinary group of nanobiomaterials to continue finding new challenges where to contribute to the sustainability in the industry of our country”.
After receiving the award, the USM researcher participated in the discussion panel “The role of women in the development and transfer of new technologies”, together with the winner of the “Outstanding Woman in Technological Entrepreneurship” category, Silvana Herrera.
In this instance, Dr. Parra shared with those present her experience in the field of innovation and technology transfer, her transition from basic science to applied science and the gender approach present in her interdisciplinary work team.
“We seek to contribute to the sustainable development of our country, which is a deep motivation. It has been a long road, of years, with important family and institutional support and a great passion for science, which has led her to a job that seeks to benefit society. Our purpose is to ensure that the main industries or industrial sectors of our country can make their production processes more efficient and sustainable, generating environmental and social impact ”, he stated.
Women in technological innovation
The award seeks to publicly recognize the work and impact in the country of outstanding women in the field of technological innovation, as a way to encourage female participation and leadership in the science, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.
The two winners of this award were selected by a jury made up of the director of Enami, Nancy Pérez; the deputy director of Patents of INAPI, Esteban Figueroa; the director of Technological Development of CORFO’s Technological Capacities Management, Elizabeth Zapata, and the president of RedGT, Fernando Venegas
