With an in-person and virtual event that brought together the 23 science- and technology-based startups at the heart of the process, the first edition of the comprehensive support program Startup Ciencia’s “Catálisis”, promoted by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, came to a close.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, which she led, the Undersecretary of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Carolina Torrealba, said that “we decided to promote Catálisis from the Ministry so that science- and technology-based startups could get to know and connect with each other, building networks among themselves and with other relevant players. We did this because we believe it is important for them to create basic conditions that allow them to accelerate their development in Chile and amplify their impact across the various fields they work in, which seek to address the many global challenges we face as a society today. We certainly believe that an important part of these goals has been met, and this can be seen in the community that has formed around this initiative and the 23 EBCTs that took part in it.”
Varinka Farren, executive director of APTA, speaking on behalf of the alliance that runs Catálisis, said: “Catálisis achieved an unprecedented partnership in the Chilean innovation ecosystem between the 3 TT hubs and the accelerator Endeavor Chile; together we put all our capabilities into driving this program aimed at strengthening EBCTs by building a community, fostering connection, collaboration and knowledge exchange between entrepreneurs and the various players in the science and technology ecosystem. We are very pleased with the results and with the participants’ feedback. We hope this initiative will outlast governments and continue on an ongoing basis, given its importance in transforming our economy and how this translates into the well-being of society as a whole.”
The important role of the network of mentors was highlighted by Javier Ramírez, executive director of Know Hub Chile, who named the experts who advised the EBCTs, preparing them for the final acceleration stages. “Mentors are crucial in a support program for science- and technology-based startups. Their experience helps avoid repeating mistakes, speed up processes and build networks. That is why we can only thank the 45 mentors who took part in different stages of Catálisis. Together, we are building a community that will help make our country’s productive matrix more sophisticated and position us as a knowledge-based society and economy,” he emphasized.
Innovation with national impact
“The EBCTs in this first Catálisis cohort not only have cutting-edge projects applying artificial intelligence, biotechnology and other advances, but are also set to directly impact productive sectors of the national economy, add value to the country’s resources and improve people’s lives beyond our borders,” said Carole Díaz, head of Science- and Technology-Based Entrepreneurship at the Ministry of Science.
Carole Díaz also detailed the fields they focus on: agriculture and forestry (Ciencia Pura and ACOT System); marine technologies (Acústica Marina); energy (Sustrendlab and Antü); retail (Innuvo and Dual Vision); education (Training & Competence); food (Done Properly and Fishextend); environment (Ecogen and Airflux); biotechnology (Spora Biotech); and health and wellness (Aictive, KOR, Lahuén Health, Live Matrix, Simbiótica, Pimún, Neurotech, Prime Tech, Soleit and Symbiox).
Their opportunities to “take the leap” and succeed were discussed in a panel moderated by Ignacio Merino, executive director of HubTec, with the participation of Marcela Ruiz, founder of Acústica Marina; Constanza Corvalán, CMO of Simbiótica; Atxarte Matesanz, representative of Endeavor and member of the Catálisis Technical Committee; and Diego Belmar, Portfolio Manager at The Ganesha Lab.
According to Ignacio Merino, “Catálisis has been an extraordinary experience that has allowed us to practice collaboration and joint learning among the essential players (science- and technology-based entrepreneurs, knowledge and technology transfer hubs, and the Ministry of CTCI) to turn Chilean science into a national asset. Together we began to build an integrated, collaborative community with a common purpose: to contribute to Chile’s economic and social development.”
Source: Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge
