News
In a community where connectivity is not always guaranteed, a group of students from María Elena decided to find a solution. What began as a learning challenge evolved into a technological project capable of enabling communication without relying on network coverage, ultimately earning them first place in the Aula IMPULSA Challenges 2026 competition.
The winning project was developed by students from the Technical, Vocational and Academic High School (Liceo Técnico Profesional Científico Humanista, TPCH). The initiative proposes a solution based on LoRa technology, allowing communication in areas with limited connectivity and offering an alternative with potential applications for the local community.
“We realized that this technology could help solve a need we know very well. In María Elena, there are areas where the signal does not always work as expected, so it was exciting to see that an idea developed by us could have a real benefit for the community,” said Vicente Mancilla, a TPCH student.
The project is part of the work carried out through Aula IMPULSA, an initiative aimed at bringing Industry 4.0 technologies closer to technical and vocational education. Through training, mentoring, and hands-on learning experiences, the program helps strengthen the skills of both teachers and students.
“Aula IMPULSA is much more than technology. Throughout this process, we worked with school leadership teams, trained teachers, and supported students in turning their ideas into practical solutions. Today, we are seeing how that learning translates into innovative projects with real impact,” said Cecilia Meléndez, Manager of IMPULSA 4.0.
Juan Vallejos, Physics teacher at TPCH, highlighted the educational value of the experience and the collaborative effort that made the project possible.
“Beyond the award itself, the most important aspect was that students learned by doing. They had the opportunity to explore a new technology, experiment with it, and develop a practical solution to a real-world problem. The support provided by Rodrigo Toler, SQM Innovation and Projects Manager, was fundamental throughout this process. He shared his knowledge and helped students understand and apply this technology,” he commented.
This recognition reflects the potential of María Elena’s young people to transform learning into practical solutions, demonstrating that innovation can emerge from the classroom and help address challenges faced by their own communities.
