The National Fund for Scientific, Technological and Technological Innovation Development (Fondecyt) published the special projects: COVID-19 Response competition.
It is a quick competition based on the Financial Instrument "Special Projects" which was approved on May 16, 2019, however, it was modified to make the necessary adaptations due to the current situation on 27 March 2020.
The overall objective of the projects is to increase the generation of new technologies, innovations and knowledge, as well as the development of low-cost products, mechanisms or services that respond to the emergency needs of COVID-19.
Projects and proposals are divided into five general thematic axes; in parentheses the amount to be given to these projects:
- Development and/or validation of detection systems, which seeks rapid diagnostic methodologies, laboratory tests and other diagnostic-related studies. (S/300,000 equivalent to just over 87,000 USD).
- Telehealth and Mobile Health, personal protection elements, medical devices such as ventilators, among others. (S/150,000 equivalent to about 44,000 USD).
- Technological developments and innovation, its objective is the production of personal protection elements, medical devices such as respirators and ventilators, among others. (S/200,000 equivalent to more than 58,000 USD).
- Treatment, which encourages the development of drugs, phytopharmaceuticals and vaccines. (S/350,000 equivalent to more than 102,000 USD).
- Epidemiological and social studies, development of studies on genomics and molecular epidemiology. (S/200,000 equivalent to more than 58,000 USD).
The call is open for universities, institutes or research and technological development centers whether public or private, public institutions, non-profit associations that promote research, Productive Innovation and Technology Transfer Centers (CITEs), Peruvian Companies and International Centers in Peru.
So far, the list has more than 600 proposals from the different sectors.
The first cut of proposals is dated April 16, the second cut off on April 19 and the last cut off on April 22, evaluations will take place from April 17 to 28. As it is a quick action project, by May 3rd the proposals will already have a response from Fondecyt, and will be awarded the amount allocated.
