The University of Concepción’s (UdeC) spin-off Kofiln SpA was chosen as one of the 13 winning startups of the Sustainable Mining Challenge, organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF). This is the only one in Chile and Latin America to have obtained this recognition. What makes it stand out among the 150 applicants that participated in this contest? How does it impact how mining is done in Chile and the world?
By: Carolina Vega Artigues, Journalist – Faculty of Engineering cvegaa@udec.cl | Images: Courtesy of the Faculty of Engineering
Walking to the Dr. Igor Wilkomirsky pilot plant at the end of Victoria Street is always a rewarding experience not only for the beauty of the university campus but also for the warm and welcoming reception of the team of professors, students, and professionals who work there. On this occasion, the reason for the visit was to get to know Kofiln, a technology that promises to revolutionize mining production worldwide and that has the support of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
This contest, which seeks to identify the most promising technologies in sustainable mining, brought together more than 150 international participants from countries with high-level technological development. It is, therefore, a tremendous achievement that highlights the effort, commitment, and innovation of UdeC engineers to transform the mining industry from Chile.
The award was announced during Climate Week in New York in September 2024 on the sidelines of the 79th United Nations General Assembly.
This award is not only a recognition of the decades of research and development in advanced mining technologies, especially by the Department of Metallurgical Engineering (DIMET) of UdeC’s Faculty of Engineering, but it is also a unique opportunity. For the next three years, the startup will have the support of the WEF and associated companies. It will receive strategic advice, visibility to investors, and access to venture capital, which are the keys to making its vision a reality. “This support will allow us to validate our technology and demonstrate its potential in a big way, to build a semi-commercial plant,” commented Dr. Roberto Parra, DIMET academic and co-founder of Kofiln.
The plant, which would be built on an area of 5,000 square meters, will operate continuously, putting into practice its innovative proposal to test its viability and sustainability.
According to Parra, Kofiln’s technology represents a paradigm shift in copper processing by making it completely emission-free and integrating the circular economy. With a revolutionary approach that operates without emissions, removes slag, and produces copper and sulfuric acid, this technology recovers iron in the form of magnetite or ferroalloys, generates cementitious products, and uses green hydrogen as a reducing agent. Kofiln transforms the copper value chain into a completely clean and efficient process.
The Kofiln team, which comprises 20 professionals, including engineers, technicians, and students, sees in this project not only a technological breakthrough but also a mission to build a more sustainable future. “It is very gratifying to see how the project has grown and has become a benchmark for mining innovation,” said the 32-year-old UdeC Professor. In addition, he stressed that this initiative is a learning and training platform for new generations of professionals, promoting an ecosystem of specialized talent in the country.
Reflecting on the path taken, Dr. Parra expressed his gratitude to all who participated in this progress. “This achievement is not only ours; it represents the effort of decades of work by the department and the graduates who today hold key positions in the industry,” concluded the researcher, who reaffirmed Kofiln’s commitment to continuing its mission for a cleaner world and mining that respects the planet.
Last modified: 23 de febrero de 2025
