Latin America’s longest-running and most recognized aerospace, defense and security exhibition took place from April 9 to 14, and the organization participated in it for the first time.
In its twenty-third edition, the International Air and Space Fair, FIDAE, organized by the Chilean Air Force (Fuerza Aérea de Chile), featured 420 exhibitors, including Know Hub Chile. In this first participation, the organization had a stand in the space pavilion, where fairgoers could learn more about its work and track record in science and technology transfer and in dual-use innovation.
Know Hub Chile also held important meetings with leading players in defense innovation, such as Saab, a leading defense and security company, and the aerospace company Boeing.
Ad Astra launch
On Friday, April 12, at the close of the third Space Summit, held at FIDAE, the Innovation Program of the Chilean Air Force and Know Hub Chile, called Ad Astra, was also launched.
The event was attended by the Undersecretary of Defense, Ricardo Montero Allende, together with the FACH Space Director, Brigadier General (A) Luis Sáez Collantes; the executive director of Know Hub Chile, Javier Ramírez; Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori; the President and Co-founder of Shield AI, Brandon Tseng; and Chilean miner Mario Sepúlveda. Its purpose was to highlight how important it is for the FACH to have an ally such as Know Hub serving as a bridge to connect it with innovation.
Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile, highlights that “the Ad Astra platform is expected to be a cornerstone of the emerging dual-use innovation ecosystem, turning the Air Force into an engine of scientific, technological and industrial development for the country.”
For his part, General Sáez, while noting that Know Hub Chile is an expert in innovation and will help bring these challenges to fruition, said that “what this program seeks is to highlight innovation as a tool to generate new ideas that improve concrete problems of the Institution, and that translates into a much more efficient, more developed Institution that will be better able to fulfill its role and its mission in pursuit of national development.”
