Fundación Chile was created in 1976 as a private, non-profit corporation with its own endowment. It was governed jointly by ITT, an American communications conglomerate, and the Chilean Government. The foundation initially focused on scientific and technological research and development, and their application to agribusiness and other industries where Chile had little or no presence.
Fundación Chile’s incubation and technology transfer process has five phases: 1. Detecting potentially profitable subsectors 2. Developing and/or importing technology suitable for specific subsectors 3. Selecting appropriate technologies 4. Implementing and adapting technologies, including incubation support and/or investment in pioneer firms 5. Diffusing technology results.
Successful businesses sectors (and companies) include: farmed Pacific oysters in Tongoy, salmon farming in the Puerto Montt region, boxed beef in Osorno, raspberries and blueberries in Araucania region.
As climate change, water, C02 emissions, and human capital has become pertinent within the Chilean and world economies, Fundación Chile is expanding its focus to include work beyond single sectors or businesses.
The homepage of Fundación Chile is currently available only in Spanish.
