The Avonni National Innovation Award has opened its 2026 call under the motto "Trust to Innovate," with Colbún as a strategic partner since 2007 through the Energía Colbún category, seeking startups with real solutions for the energy transition. Applications are open until June 30 at avonni.cl/postular.
The “Energía Colbún” category recognizes initiatives that contribute to a responsible energy transition through clean technologies, efficiency, and new management models.
The application deadline is June 30.
Santiago, May 8, 2026.- Under the motto “Trust to Innovate,” the Avonni National Innovation Award has opened its 2026 call, inviting entrepreneurs, startups, companies, and institutions to submit initiatives with a concrete impact on the country's sustainable development.
The award, which over 20 years has recognized more than 300 innovations and has established itself as the country's leading innovation recognition, is presented by ForoInnovación on behalf of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, El Mercurio, and TVN. Avonni highlights twelve categories covering different areas of development, including Energía Colbún, focused on showcasing solutions that drive a cleaner, safer, and more resilient energy matrix.
“Avonni is not just a recognition — it is an act of trust. Trust that it is worth daring, even without guarantees. Trust that transformative ideas can emerge from anywhere. And trust that Chile can — and must — go further… we are not just opening a call, we are opening an invitation. To question the established, to let go of what no longer serves, and to believe — in others and in ourselves. Because innovation always begins with an act of trust,” said Guillermo Carey, President of ForoInnovación.
Colbún has participated as a strategic partner of this recognition since 2007, driving the Energía Colbún category over the past five years to spotlight high-potential projects, foster collaboration within the energy ecosystem, and accelerate solutions to the challenges of the energy transition.
“The energy transition needs real innovation. At Colbún we want to work with startups that are developing solutions for the energy sector and want to test them in real conditions. We invite you to participate in the Energía Colbún category, where you can validate your technologies, develop pilots, and work alongside our teams. We want you to see us as a strategic partner and a laboratory where ideas can become real projects,” said Diego García, Colbún's Innovation Manager.
Avonni 2025
Last year the category received 23 applications. The winner was Thems, a modular measurement, monitoring, and control system aimed at reducing energy consumption and unmonitored emissions from maritime transport, facilitating its transition to renewable energy. Its mission is to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in the naval sector, promoting innovative solutions that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency on vessels. Joel Pérez, co-founder of the startup, stated that “the impact of maritime transport in terms of emissions is significant. What we seek with this innovation is to decarbonize maritime transport through the electrification and hybridization of already-built vessels, contributing to a substantial reduction in our country's carbon footprint.”
One of the finalists was Ecometric, from the Biobío Region, which entered with the initiative “AI Acoustic Sentinel for Renewable Energy” — a system that uses artificial intelligence to measure and manage the socio-environmental impact of noise in wind farms, anticipating disruptive events, reducing potential community conflicts, and optimizing operational efficiency through real-time diagnostics. Carolina Cartes, General Manager of the firm, explained that “our project consists of a device that listens to what is happening inside the turbines and can predict potential failures of these assets, helping operators make decisions.” The company operates this technology in Chile and Brazil, and projects its expansion to other Latin American countries.
The other finalist was startup Bluera, based in the Metropolitan Region, which develops a thermo-dissociation process without oxygen or combustion that valorizes non-recyclable waste (such as mixed plastics, textiles, or contaminated sludge), transforming trash into useful energy. Cristóbal Hurtado, creator of the project, highlighted that “our initiative offers a sustainable alternative for waste management and clean energy generation, promoting a circular economy that can demonstrate that non-recyclable waste does have a real outlet through energy value.” Bluera also received the “Startup of the Year 2025” award, presented by El Mercurio and the Swiss Embassy.
Applications are open until June 30, 2026 at avonni.cl/postular
