Mis Pasos por una Innovación Disruptiva | Nadac Reales del Canto | TEDxAntofagasta

Nad Rales' Journey in Biotechnology

• Nad Rales, a biotechnologist and entrepreneur from Antofagasta, Chile, highlights the importance of education and perseverance in her professional journey.
• Despite challenges and discrimination as a woman in the mining industry, she successfully implemented a bioleaching process in a major mining company.
• After facing a setback when her boss patented her technology, she continued her work and gained national and international recognition for her innovative developments.

Sustainable Steel and Rubber Recycling Technology

• The speaker shares their development of a sustainable process to recover steel and rubber from vulcanized steel.
• They identified the environmental issues caused by the accumulation of industrial waste, particularly vulcanized steel with rubber.
• The current practices of burning rubber to extract steel are harmful to the environment and pose health risks.
• Their technological development involves using bacteria that biodegrade the steel without generating harmful waste.
• The process is eco-friendly, cost-effective, scalable, and easy to implement.
• The technology is patented in Chile, the United States, and the European Union.
• The first industrial plant processing industrial waste is being implemented in the Antofagasta region, with global impact.
• Despite challenges, the speaker chose to develop the technology in the region to demonstrate its viability and potential for broader adoption.
• The technology has received international recognition and has been presented at COP27.
• It generates zero greenhouse gas emissions, unlike traditional steel foundries which contribute to climate change.

Entrepreneurial Journey and Personal Growth

• The speaker, a woman from Antofagasta, Chile, shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges she has faced.
• She emphasizes the importance of having strategic allies and support from friends, family, or mentors when pursuing technological advancements.
• Despite facing a near-death experience and health complications, she persevered and continued to work on her technological development project.
• Her project gained recognition and she was invited to present it at the COP conference and the United Nations in the United Arab Emirates.
• She secured a partnership with Chinese investors interested in commercializing her steel and rubber recycling technology.
• The speaker reflects on her personal growth and the hardships she endured, including being bullied as a child and experiencing workplace harassment in the mining industry.
• She emphasizes the value of self-belief, resilience, and perseverance in achieving one's dreams and making a positive impact on society.
• She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to focus on personal development, continuous learning, and building strong relationships, rather than solely relying on formal education or traditional success metrics.