The National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) announced the results of the Fondef IDeA R&D 2026 competition, which received a total of 871 applications and awarded funding to 102 projects, representing 11.71% of the initiatives submitted.
Compared to the previous call, this edition saw an 8% decrease in the total number of competitive research grants awarded. In terms of regional distribution, 39 funded projects (38.2%) will be executed in the Metropolitan Region, while 63 (61.8%) will be developed across other territories, led by high participation in Biobío, Valparaíso, and La Araucanía.
In this context, the University of Santiago de Chile (USACH) will execute three funded R&D projects through the Faculty of Engineering (FING), targeting critical technological challenges in the energy and mining sectors. Dr. Andrea Mahn Osses, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation, highlighted: “This result demonstrates the strength of our university’s scientific and technological capabilities, as well as its commitment to developing applied solutions for the key challenges facing Chilean society.”
She also noted that this achievement reflects the sustained efforts promoted by the VRIIC and the Faculty of Engineering in applied research and technology transfer, expanding USACH’s contribution in areas of national strategic importance.
“We are proud that our researchers are driving initiatives that generate applied knowledge, strengthen ties with the productive sector, and develop technologies with potential economic, social, and environmental impact, contributing to Chile’s sustainable development,” said Dr. Mahn.
The proposals will receive a total grant of $454 million from ANID and will implement an overall budget exceeding $1,000 million over two years, including the institutional contribution. In addition, they will benefit from the collaboration of partner organizations such as Tecnologías y Maquinarias (Tecma), Siderval, the Independent Coordinator of the National Electric System, and Conecta Ingeniería.
To prepare competitive proposals for these R&D calls, academic teams received comprehensive support from the Office of the Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation (Vriic). Through its Technology Management Office (DGT), the Vriic hosted targeted capacity-building workshops designed to enhance application quality and project feasibility.
Awarded Projects
1) “EDAC Schemes for Distribution Systems with PMGD Integration”
This project is led by Dr. Héctor Chávez, a researcher in the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering (FING), in collaboration with Tecnologías y Maquinarias (Tecma) as a partner organization.
Its objective is “to validate the functionality of an EDAC (Automatic Load Disconnection Schemes) automation system, based on a FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) in accordance with the internal procedures of the CEN (National Electric Coordinator), to enable coordinated distribution companies to comply with the EDAC quotas mandated by the CEN.”
2. “Synthetic Inertia of Wind Turbines for Non-Coherent Electric Systems with High Renewable Energy Penetration”
Spearheaded by Dr. Hicham El Aiss (Department of Electrical Engineering, FING) alongside Conecta Ingeniería S.A. and the CEN, this research focuses on developing a scalable synthetic inertia control algorithm for multi-area power systems.
The objective is “to analytically develop, in a laboratory setting, an experimental validation of a scalable synthetic inertia control algorithm for multi-area power systems, integrating all components associated with a wind power generation system using a Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) scheme, which is connected to a real-time simulator that represents the Chilean power system based on databases available from the National Electricity Coordinator.”
3. “Development of a Wear-Resistant Lining for Jaw Crushers in the Mining Industry”
Operating as a co-beneficiary, USACH participates through Dr. Alberto Monsalve of the Department of Metallurgical Engineering in collaboration with industry partner SIDERVAL. Its purpose is “to develop a TWIP steel with the composition Fe-18-20Mn-0.6C-5Cr-xB, in both as-cast and heat-treated conditions, and to validate its performance in a relevant environment as a wear plate in a jaw crusher.”