The event for the awarding of the grant funds of the “Third Call for funds for innovation and/or sustainable development projects” was held at the “Las Marianitas” campus of Universidad Técnica del Norte UTN. The event was attended by the Secretary of the Senescyt, Alejandro Rivadeneira, as well as the main authorities of the HUB Norte corresponding to the Planning Zones 1 and 2.

Currently the HUB Norte is made up of 26 members, 18 higher education institutions, 7 private companies and 1 public company. It was created with the aim of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship projects of university students focused on solving the needs of society by linking the public, private and productive sector in Zones 1 and 2 that comprise the provinces of Imbabura, Carchi, Esmeraldas, Napo, Sucumbíos, Orellana and the northern area of ​​Pichincha.

From the initial call to date, 22 projects have been approved, 3 in the first call, 4 in the second and 15 in the third. Of this last group, 4 projects are carried out by Yachay Tech students. These projects will be financed by HUB Norte.

Julio Alejandro Quillupangui Cadena and his team received a total of $10,000 to strengthen their HAWSEN project, which focuses on solving the problem of high construction costs through investigative actions that make possible the 3D printing of bio-friendly and anti-seismic houses.

Emerson Anthony Mena and his team were awarded $5,940 for their REVERTER project, focused on developing a hemp beverage that is nutritious, has antioxidants, and generates minimal environmental impact.

Eder Rene Vera Guzmán as a representative of HARKAMASK was awarded a $3,000 incentive to carry out his project that seeks to reduce environmental pollution caused by masks made from petroleum-based polymers. His alternative is based on the manufacture of biodegradable masks with the use of the electrospinning technique to obtain cellulose nanofibers made from sugar cane bagasse.

Finally, María Fernanda Molina Ron, representative of UPROFESSOR, will receive $2,580 for her project, which is a digital platform that seeks to unite tutors with students, while providing access to quality education in rural communities.

Diego Pérez, Rector of Yachay Tech, mentioned: “It is extremely important to reinforce the link between the different productive sectors of the country with academia, the public and private sectors, and the community to enhance the social and economic progress of Ecuador. In this sense, Yachay Tech has been one of the main generators of projects for the HUB Norte. The University provides the necessary facilities and knowledge for the development of each of the competing projects, thus demonstrating the great talent of its students who stand out in ventures focused on the scientific, technological and innovation fields, to solve the problems of the country”.

Alejandro Rivadeneira, head of Senescyt, intervened at the end of the event and stated: “Innovation from academia through research will strengthen the paths that Ecuador needs for its development; from innovation is where we can do different things; through entrepreneurship, the productive sector and research is where we are going to achieve the reactivation of the country”.

Yachay Tech University congratulates all the winners of the call and highlights its commitment to society by training students with great scientific and research capacity that contribute to the generation of knowledge and technology in the country.