The application of artificial intelligence, computer vision, and automation to improve processes in the forestry and wood industry was one of the main focuses of the visit made by Corfo authorities to the Center for Industry 4.0 (C4i), an initiative led by the University of Concepción that works on the development and transfer of advanced technologies for the national industry.
During the event, the Vice President of Corfo, José Ignacio Mujica, and the Regional Director of Corfo Biobío, James Argo, toured the Center's facilities and learned about various projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of strategic productive sectors, including the forestry, wood, and wood construction industries.
One of the developments that generated the most interest was the computer vision program applied to automated wood classification and inspection. The technology uses cameras and artificial intelligence to analyze material characteristics in real time, allowing for the optimization of production processes, improvement of quality standards, and increased operational efficiency in sawmills and industrial plants.
The authorities also reviewed advances in augmented reality and virtual reality for industrial training, three-dimensional scanning of parts, and monitoring systems using sensors—tools that seek to accelerate the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in companies of various sizes.
José Ignacio Mujica highlighted the close relationship the Center maintains with the productive sector and valued its ability to transform applied research into concrete solutions for companies. “What we see here is a very close connection with industry. Research is important, but it is also important that knowledge reaches companies and is transformed into innovation that generates value and new opportunities,” he stated.
For his part, James Argo emphasized the strategic nature of these technological capabilities for the Biobío Region and highlighted their potential to strengthen key productive sectors. “Industry 4.0 in Biobío has significant development thanks to this center. These are capabilities that are not commonly found and that allow supporting the modernization of productive sectors relevant to the regional economy,” he indicated.
During the visit, progress on the Advanced Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 Center project was also presented, an initiative driven by the University of Concepción together with the University of Bío-Bío and the company Huachipato of the CAP Group. The proposal seeks to consolidate a hub of technological innovation for the national industry, boosting areas such as automation, digitalization, advanced manufacturing, and industrialized wood construction.
The authorities also toured the future facilities of the Huachipato Industrial Innovation Hub, a space where the Center's growth and the expansion of its research, piloting, and technology transfer capabilities to companies are projected.
In a context where the forestry and wood industry faces the challenge of increasing its productivity and adding greater value to its products, the incorporation of artificial intelligence, automation, and data analysis appears as a key tool to strengthen the sector's competitiveness. The alliance between the University of Concepción, the University of Bío-Bío, and the productive sector seeks precisely to accelerate this technological transformation from the Biobío Region to the rest of the country.
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