Applications open for program supporting science- and technology-based companies

KNOW HUB CHILE LAUNCHES PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED STARTUPS

The Know Hub Ignition 2020 call for applications is open until Sunday, May 17. Sixteen teams will be selected for a 15-week program that ends with the selection of three winning teams that will travel to California.

The program’s organizers, Know Hub Chile and UC Riverside, will host a webinar (in Spanish) on Tuesday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m. Register here.

Know Hub Chile and the University of California, Riverside (UC Riverside) opened the call for applications for Know Hub Ignition, a program that supports the creation and maturation of ventures built on the results of scientific or technological research (technology-based startups, or EBTs). The call is open to researchers, undergraduate and graduate students, and entrepreneurs until May 17.

Know Hub Ignition addresses some of the gaps identified in the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) report on EBTs in Latin America, such as the “absence or weakness, in many countries, of training opportunities that introduce academics and scientists to entrepreneurship as an option.” Know Hub Ignition is precisely that: a 15-week program in which the selected teams will receive I-Corps training from the US National Science Foundation (NSF), focused mainly on finding out whether there is a market for their idea. They will also receive key support with the corporate and tax structure of their venture (company set-up) and mentoring from national and international experts to help their technology reach society and the market. Finally, three teams will be selected to travel to California for a week of meetings with potential customers and investors.

“Working to foster innovation is our way of helping to overcome the current crisis, especially now that science is being recognized for its rightful place in the design and implementation of national public policy. In light of this, we believe Know Hub can and must contribute, in line with our goal of working together to turn science into innovation,” says Javier Ramírez, Executive Director of Know Hub Chile.

“In this time of so much uncertainty, it is our innovators who will find the solutions to so many global challenges. Know Hub Ignition is a guide to implementing those solutions,” adds Rosibel Ochoa, Associate Vice Chancellor for Technology Partnerships at UC Riverside.

According to Mujeres Alta Dirección (Red MAD), only 6% of startups are founded exclusively by women. That is why Know Hub Ignition 2020 has a gender focus: 25% of the spots will go to proposals led by women.

In its first edition in 2019, Know Hub Ignition received 53 proposals, 11 of which were selected. For its second edition in 2020, it has increased the number of spots: 16 will be chosen. For those with questions about how to apply or the program’s benefits, Know Hub Chile and UC Riverside will host a webinar (in Spanish) on Tuesday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m. Register here.

SUCCESS STORY

One of the achievements of the 2019 edition of Know Hub Ignition was the signing of the scale-up and commercialization agreement between the cleaning products company Excell Chile and Bm iTek. This startup created Dacetix, a disinfectant made from components generally recognized as safe (a standard known as GRAS). This means Dacetix has several advantages over chemical disinfectants: it requires no rinsing, is safe for human consumption and is eco-friendly.

Excell Chile has already produced Dacetix at large scale (scale-up) and plans to sell the disinfectant to industry and households, as part of the formulation of some of its home products, such as floor cleaners and sprays.

To learn more about Know Hub Ignition: www.knowhub.cl/programa-ignition