Cumulus member and fan since 1992 Carlos Hinrichsen is back under our umbrella. He has become appointed as Senior Managing Coordinator of Engineering-Design in the Faculty of Engineering (http://www.ing.uc.cl/) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (http://www.uc.cl/en). We know him from many contexts e.g. organized Cumulus conference in 2012 of DuoCUC as well as acting as ICSID President and as member of their board.

Carlos Hinrichsen is now in charge of carrying through an innovation and joint development strategy for the Engineering and Design areas. This is a critical strategic focal point established in the context of the New Engineering for 2030 initiative (This is a strategic initiative promoted by the government of Chile). This key position is part of the Faculty of Engineering, and from there he will generate options to link with the School of Design. The purpose of this initiative is to develop an innovative competitive advantage in Chile around global-impact local opportunities and challenges with strategic focus on the field of Engineering-Design. It can be summarized in 3 words: collaboration, networking and action with regional impact, but with a global significance.

As part of the plan, a multidisciplinary research and learning model will be strengthened, involving Chilean and foreign faculty, students, entrepreneurs, innovators, companies and communities. This initiative joins a global trend set by Singapore and Finland, two benchmark countries in research, entrepreneurship and innovation, which have integrated interdisciplinary learning that has proved to provide better solutions and responses to today’s society and economy.

He is in charge of coordinating the implementation of the Engineering-Design Group’s research strategy to accomplish effective discovery, innovation, and technology transfer actions. He is responsible for articulating integral proposals, convoking researchers and furthering interdisciplinary action. This involves actively working on the development of complementary or related projects with Engineering and Design faculty along with other from Faculties within P. Universidad Católica (including Medicine, Management, Biology, Education, Chemistry, Physics, and Communications), and with researchers, experts, and entrepreneurs from other local and foreign institutions or universities, for example the Aalto University.

In Cumulus, we wish to Carlos every success in his work and challenges which will be supported by our entire association. Please feel free to contact him at carlos.hinrichsen(at).puc.cl, recent news e.g. of him; http://red-dot.de/pd/red-dot-jury-2016/carlos-hinrichsen/?lang=en