Chile’s CTCI ecosystem: the players you should know

A guide to understanding Chile’s CTCI ecosystem, its main players and how they work together so that scientific knowledge can move toward new applications and technology transfer opportunities.

Scientific knowledge can travel a long way before it becomes a technology, a service, a company or a solution used by society. Researchers, universities, R&D centers, companies, public bodies, investors, technology transfer offices and other specialized organizations all take part in that process.

This network is part of Chile’s Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (CTCI) ecosystem. Understanding how it works and who takes part makes it easier to see how research can move from its earliest stages to finding applications and technology transfer opportunities.

What is the CTCI ecosystem and what is it made of?

The CTCI ecosystem brings together the people, institutions, resources and instruments involved in generating, developing, transferring and using knowledge.

Its scope covers scientific research, technology development and innovation, together with human capital training and linking knowledge with the needs of society and the productive sectors.

In Chile, this system has had its own public institutional framework since the creation of the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (MinCiencia) through Law 21,105, published in 2018. This law set up an institutional framework to guide, coordinate and promote CTCI activities in the country.

The Action Plan of the National Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation Policy 2022-2026 stresses the importance of fostering interaction between public and private people and institutions to build a high-quality, diverse CTCI ecosystem.

That is why talking about the CTCI ecosystem means looking both at those who generate knowledge and at those who help fund, develop, transfer and use it.

How is Chile’s CTCI institutional framework organized?

Governance of the CTCI ecosystem involves different levels and bodies with complementary responsibilities.

At the strategic and policy level is the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, responsible for designing public policies for the development of science, technology, knowledge and innovation. It is joined by the National Council of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation for Development, which provides long-term strategic guidance.

As part of this coordination structure, the Interministerial Committee on Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation brings together representatives of the ministries of Science, Finance, Economy and Education to coordinate CTCI policies and actions that involve different areas of government. Its role links the system’s strategic decisions with the priorities of the different public policy sectors.

Within this strategic and coordination framework, different public bodies are in charge of implementing support programs and instruments. They include the National Research and Development Agency (ANID) and the Production Development Corporation (CORFO). There are also specialized institutions that support research and innovation in specific sectors, such as the Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA).

This structure allows CTCI policies to become funding, training and support instruments for projects, institutions and startups at different stages of development.

Who takes part in technology transfer?

Technology transfer comprises the processes through which knowledge and research results can reach the organizations and settings where they will be used. For this to happen, different players step in, with roles that can complement each other as a technology develops.

Knowledge-generating institutions

Knowledge-generating institutions (IGC, for their Spanish acronym) include universities, research centers and other organizations that carry out R&D.

Besides their teaching and research functions, these institutions play a role in linking knowledge with society. In this context, the concept of the universities’ third mission is used, associated with activities such as knowledge transfer, engagement with their surroundings and research-based entrepreneurship.

A research project can produce relevant scientific results, but reaching other settings requires identifying applications, managing intellectual property, developing the technology and finding organizations able to adopt it or bring it to market.

Technology Transfer and Licensing Offices

Technology Transfer and Licensing Offices (OTL) play a specialized role within research institutions.

Their tasks include identifying and assessing technologies, managing intellectual property, seeking transfer opportunities and supporting licensing processes or the creation of science- and technology-based companies.

Their work connects capabilities developed at universities and research centers with companies and other players interested in incorporating knowledge and technology.

Technology transfer hubs

Technology transfer hubs help strengthen transfer capabilities and broaden connections within the ecosystem.

Their work can involve bringing together knowledge-generating institutions, companies, entrepreneurs, public bodies and other players linked to technology development.

They can also support processes related to technology assessment, intellectual property, business development, industry engagement and the search for new applications.

This coordination becomes especially important when a technology needs capabilities, infrastructure, market knowledge or validation settings that are not available within a single organization.

Companies and other players

Companies can take part as recipients of technologies, partners in R&D processes, solution developers or potential partners for commercialization and scale-up.

Entrepreneurs, investors, public bodies, users and organizations that provide infrastructure, specialized knowledge or settings to validate a technology can also take part.

The involvement of these players depends on the characteristics and stage of each project. A technology under development may need different capabilities from a solution that is already ready to be implemented.

Know Hub Chile’s role in the CTCI ecosystem

In this ecosystem, Know Hub Chile works as a facilitator and connector of innovation and technology transfer processes.

Its work connects capabilities from knowledge-generating institutions with companies, entrepreneurs, public bodies and other players that can contribute to the development and adoption of technologies.

This includes strengthening transfer capabilities, supporting projects and creating connections to explore applications, validate developments and move toward new transfer opportunities.

Know Hub also seeks to help institutions and teams build capabilities they can use on their own in their innovation and transfer processes. In this way, the knowledge and tools they acquire remain part of the organizations’ capabilities and help strengthen the CTCI ecosystem.

Through this work, Know Hub Chile seeks to make it easier to connect knowledge, capabilities and application opportunities, supporting the different players in their innovation and technology transfer processes.