Panama, December 3, 2024. Panamanian Alexander Valdelamar, a Fulbright-Senacyt-Ifarhu scholarship recipient, was awarded first place in the Airtech Challenge 2024 international competition, which seeks to promote innovative solutions to optimize the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry.
This initiative of the multinational Daikin and the innovation, business, investment and entrepreneurship platform incMTY, is aimed at entrepreneurs residing in Latin America to present their startups and projects related to the HVAC industry and its supply chain. In this edition of the Airtech Challenge, user and customer experience and applications of Artificial Intelligence for any of the stages of the HVAC industry value chain were addressed. A total of 280 innovative proposals were submitted.
Alexander Valdelamar, a native of the San Miguelito District in the Panamanian capital, is a 25-year-old engineer, trained at the Technological University of Panama. He holds a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering, achieved with a 4.0 GPA from the University of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a member of the Fulbrigth community and is part of the honor society of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
As director of innovation, he leads development teams specialized in creating innovative artificial intelligence, software and hardware solutions focusing on solving sustainability problems with the highest quality standards.
The winning project developed by the intern and his team, presents a system based on artificial intelligence for energy management and predictive maintenance of HVAC systems. This innovative solution not only stood out among hundreds of international competitors, but also won a prize of 10 thousand balboas ($10,000 USD) and a special invitation to visit Daikin’s headquarters in Osaka, Japan, where it will continue to develop its proposal.
“This recognition represents a significant milestone in my career and demonstrates how technology can effectively contribute to energy sustainability,” said the winner, who since 2022 has been a beneficiary of the Fulbright-Senacyt-Ifarhu program.
The Panamanian’s career includes the development of artificial intelligence algorithms specialized in the detection of failures in HVAC systems and the creation of energy efficiency tools. Her work is distinguished by seeking accessible solutions for Latin America, with the aim of improving the quality of life and promoting global sustainable development. He is also the creator of the Youtube channel “Ciencia Unitaria” where he educates his audience about Machine Learning with the aim of making data science accessible to everyone.
“I am committed to applying these technological solutions to optimize resources and promote sustainable practices in Panama,” added the winner. This achievement not only represents a personal triumph, but also positions Panama at the forefront of technological innovation and energy sustainability.
