The proposal, selected from more than 1,200 ideas submitted to the Innova Sostenible tournament, seeks to convert parks into hubs for urban tourism and free play through the use of recycled materials. Conexión presented the award as part of its commitment to innovation and regional development.
The Innova Sostenible tournament, organized by Duoc UC with the support of Banco Santander, Conexión Kimal–Lo Aguirre, and HUB Providencia as strategic partners, held its final ceremony with the participation of more than 3,900 students and graduates, and the presentation of around 1,289 innovative ideas focused on sustainability and regional development.
Within this framework, the Conexión Award was presented to the project “Recrea Chile by DAYU,” distinguished for its greater social and environmental impact. The initiative, developed by Felipe Zapata, Claudio Cepeda, Javier Guerra, and José San Martín, industrial design students at Duoc UC’s Plaza Oeste campus, seeks to transform squares and parks into inclusive and sustainable spaces through the use of recycled materials, such as stainless steel and high-impact polystyrene plastic, integrating local identity and sustainable design. This initiative turns public spaces into urban tourism hubs that promote free play and physical activity, with a model that can be replicated in various communities across the country.
After receiving the award with great pride, the team expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to carry out their project and contribute to the children of Chile. “It is very gratifying that someone recognizes our work, and we thank Conexión Kimal-Lo Aguirre for giving us this award. We hope that with these spaces, children will return to playing in the streets and squares.”
Duoc UC highlighted the high level of the proposals and the commitment of the participants. “Today we saw a true laboratory of sustainability where our students are creating projects with prototypes that contribute to reducing the amount of waste we generate. We congratulate each of the participants for daring to believe in a more sustainable future,” said Velko Petric, vice president of finance at the academic institution.
In this new version, Conexión joined the tournament as a strategic partner to recognize projects that have a concrete impact on rural communities, especially in areas with problems related to networks, connectivity, and water scarcity. In this regard, Susana Tobar, the company’s sustainability leader, stated that “for us, the Conexión Award in the Innova Sostenible tournament is a way to recognize and promote young talent that drives the transformation of territories with concrete solutions to the challenges of energy and social transition. Recrea Chile by DAYU fully reflects that spirit: meaningful innovation that connects people’s energy with the sustainable future Chile needs, generating impacts that transcend electricity and contribute to the comprehensive development of territories.”
