In the idyllic setting of the Los Lagos Region in southern Chile, the World Summit Awards (WSA) 2024 took place. This annual event brings together the highlights of innovation from around the planet, providing a space for the exchange of ideas, public-private collaboration , and recognition of outstanding projects that use technology to promote sustainable development and social well-being.
From inspirational talks to hands-on workshops and in-depth analyses, WSA 2024 was an epicenter of creativity and networking . Technology experts, social entrepreneurs, software developers, and thought leaders came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the world today.
Benefits of different kinds
“In a region that has opted for sustainability and innovation, the WSA global meeting has been a complete success. In all nine categories there were winning applications that will be useful for the world, but also for our region. And it’s good that within the nine areas of competition, a Chilean application in education and learning won, Alfi , which has developed an application that can be useful for the country,” said the regional governor of Los Lagos, Patricio Vallespín López.
He went on to say that for the region, the Benefits are of different types: Entrepreneurs have been able to connect to networks around the world, they have also learned about applications in All Areas, how to make a better management of the Cultural and environmental heritage, how to make a better management through the practices of these applications, how to improve the Bless you, how to develop Green Energyamong others.
Regional Pact
Andrea Iturriaga Hewstone, who is a regional councillor (core) of Los Lagos, said that, within the productive promotion, the Regional Council (CORE) supports through the Pact for a Sustainable and Inclusive Region , which is directly related to led by the governor and holding working groups to identify the gaps, to know where the CORE and the Regional Government (GORE) can contribute with financing, establish strategies, guidelines, studies and, in turn, what each sector can contribute.
Along these lines, the regional director of Corfo Los Lagos, Gabriel Perez Gonzalez, said that having the opportunity to interact with actors from different parts of the world facing the same challenges of Climate Crisis, how to address the sustainability, makes it clear that the Challenges are common and cross-cutting, not only specific to a particular political sector or country, but is the entire institutional framework that is being challenged For example, migrations due to climate change, living conditions, population growth, and also the difficulties of implementing new policies in a context of adversity where the Crises are read and evaluated from different perspectives.
For his part, the regional director (s) of the National Tourism Service ( Sernatur ), Luis Hurtado Barros, said that Sernatur Los Lagos and the Regional Government are very satisfied to have contributed to the realization of this great world congress of startups.
Asked about security in southern Chile, Ricardo Almeida, who lives in Lisbon, Portugal, and who participated in the treks through the streets of Puerto Varas and Frutillar, said he “feels completely safe. And what’s more, I never even thought about the possibility of having a problem.”
Gastronomy, accommodations, national parks and more
In addition, the local gastronomy delighted the most demanding palates. Attendees had the opportunity to enjoy unique culinary delights, such as crudos, kuchenes and seafood broths. The restaurants of the Llanquihue Lake basin also became venues for meeting and celebration, where experiences were shared and new friendships were forged.
Of course, the quality of the accommodations was also a crucial factor in the success of the event. The Lakes Region has a wide range of hotels and cabins, ranging from cozy lakeside retreats to luxurious resorts on the coast. Participants were able to choose from a variety of options that suited their needs and preferences, ensuring a comfortable and memorable stay.
