On January 9th, the Third Symposium on Identification, Control, and Applications (SICAP 2025) took place at the Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, organized by the Advanced Center for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (AC3E), specifically by its researcher Dr. Juan Carlos Agüero. The event brought together renowned national and international academics and scientists, industry representatives, and students to discuss the results of recent research on these topics and their potential applications in the productive sector.
“This new edition was a very enriching experience. We had the participation of several distinguished speakers, including researchers, professors, and students from various Chilean universities, as well as a researcher from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), in addition to representatives from the industrial sector. The presentations and debates not only highlighted the high level of research currently being developed in the area of automatic control and its multiple applications, but also highlighted the importance of these topics for addressing current challenges,” emphasized postdoctoral researcher Ángel Cedeño, one of the organizers of this activity.
The day was marked by the exchange of ideas and the creation of new networks, which will undoubtedly boost collaboration between academia and industry and, therefore, the development of joint projects in the future.
The researcher also highlighted that the topics addressed in the symposium, in addition to being exciting and motivating, are of great importance for technological development and innovation in various industrial sectors. “In the area of automatic control, system identification and state estimation are essential for optimizing processes, improving energy efficiency, and developing new applications in fields such as robotics, power electronics, and renewable energies. By sharing the latest research advances in these areas, we contribute to training the future generations of engineers and scientists, strengthen Chile’s position as a relevant player in international research, and enhance the link between academia and industry,” added Dr. Cedeño.
One of the speakers at this symposium was Dr. Rodrigo González from the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), who, since 2020, has carried out various research collaborations with the USM and AC3E, resulting in a series of new state estimation and system identification algorithms. Therefore, he took advantage of his stay in Chile not only to be part of this activity but also to work on projects with researchers at the Center.
“It was a very enriching experience both academically and personally, having the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues and friends at the USM to advance our research in state estimation and system identification. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality of Professor Juan Carlos Agüero and Ángel Cedeño, who invited me this year and in the previous two. During this stay, we managed to consolidate previous work and open doors to new research topics that we will continue in the future,” highlighted the visiting academic, Dr. Rodrigo González.
It is worth noting that the work carried out with researchers at the Center has been published in prestigious international conferences and journals, such as the IFAC World Congress and Automática, and many of the results obtained are in the process of being written and reviewed. Therefore, it is expected that in the short term there will be more students collaborating on these topics in Chile and the Netherlands, achieving an even greater impact in the coming years.
Regarding the Symposium, Dr. González described this new version as successful, with a very high academic quality and participation from various Chilean universities. “It is an opportunity to integrate academia with industry, which we have achieved through academic talks with concrete applications and discussions with representatives of Chilean companies such as Honeywell. The excellent reception that this event has had, both at AC3E and at the USM, motivates us to continue working to consolidate it as a key space for exchange and collaboration,” he added.
The participation of students is another important aspect of this activity, as it not only provides them with advanced knowledge in control but also a practical vision of how to solve challenges in sectors such as mining, health, energy, and mechatronics. In addition to the above, many students have presented their Master’s and Doctoral theses, which gives them an additional opportunity for feedback and strengthening their skills.
Without a doubt, the quality and diversity of the presentations reflect the importance of this symposium in the advancement of the discipline and to demonstrate how collaboration is at the heart of scientific progress and the key to consolidating the role of academia as an engine of innovation and development. “The synergies between researchers, professors, and students allow us to address complex problems from complementary perspectives, resulting in innovative and effective solutions. This collaborative approach not only strengthens interdisciplinarity but also enriches the training of students by exposing them to different approaches and methodologies,” concluded Dr. Cedeño.
