Chile – Opening a call to highlight the role of women in science and technology

With the aim of promoting the participation of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, the opening of the sixth call for the Inspira Tech Prize has been announced.

Under Secretary for Economy and Small Business, Javiera Petersen, with Under Secretary for Women and Gender Equality, Luz Vidal; The Under Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Carolina Ginza, announced the Opening of the sixth call for InspiraTEC award.

Since 2016, this award has been seeking to recognize inventions and project development by teens, young adults, and women entrepreneurs in STEM fields.

For this year’s edition, InspiraTEC Open your call by calling Outstanding teens, young women, and adults from all STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). This, with the aim of increasing the visibility of women’s contribution to innovation, promoting women’s entrepreneurship and creating job opportunities in these areas and taking into account the positive impact on the economy, society and the environment, through the creation of innovative products or services, or bringing about changes in markets.

Undersecretary Javiera Petersen explained, “As a government, we want to continue promoting these spaces where women can share knowledge, create networks among women entrepreneurs which are standards for the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Additionally, these types of examples, such as the Inspiratec Award, allow women entrepreneurs to be highlighted. who contribute to the economy, society and the environment through innovation in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, which is key to the new model of productive development that we are promoting from the Ministry of Economy.”

As Undersecretary Petersen explained, in 2020, only 28% of those enrolled in engineering and science jobs were women, “This affects technology jobs, for example, only 5% of jobs in this sector in 2016 corresponded to women, and here The importance of moving towards profound cultural change. We must foster those women who have been able to break down barriers and find innovative solutions in the marketplace.”

This call is aimed at Chilean or foreign females, with at least two years of residence in Chile, who are founders, participants or partners of projects or projects based on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Award categories are: Inspirational young woman and STEM entrepreneur and STEM entrepreneur.

The first category targets girls and youth from grades seven through four, or up to one year of graduation, and is characterized by the development of STEM-based projects in their school phase. Single or double application is allowed.

Second, for owners or partners of STEM-based companies, cooperatives, or innovation projects, in early stage, pilot, or commercial validation, with or without formalization and up to 5 years from the start of activities in the first category SII. , with or without sales. Whereas the latter category is for members of STEM-based companies, cooperatives or innovation projects, whose company has been at least 5 years old since initiating its SII activities and demonstrable growth potential.

Applicants must complete a virtual form on the website www.premioinspiratec.cl. The application period begins on Friday, September 9 and ends On October 11th.