Two R&D initiatives proposed by the University of Santiago, Chile, were awarded the 2025 Technology Centers for Innovation Competition, organized by ANID, in which six proposals were selected nationwide.
The call for proposals funds the creation and strengthening of technology centers for innovation, with a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach, aimed at addressing challenges in the country's productive sectors. The aim is to contribute to sustainable development and strengthen the national ecosystem of science, technology, knowledge, and innovation (CTKI).
At the institutional level, Laben-Chile and CIMAc (Center for Innovation in Technology and Design of Materials, Components, and Systems from Secondary Raw Materials and Biocomposites for the Built Environment) were selected. Both will have a duration of five years, renewable for another five, during which time they will execute their committed work plans, with a budget of close to 1 billion pesos per year each.
"This achievement is a clear sign of Usach's ability to transform knowledge into technological innovation with an impact on society. Both centers not only strengthen the science and technology ecosystem, but also consolidate the University's role as a key player in technology transfer to strategic productive sectors,“ said Rodrigo Morgado, director of Technology Management (DGT) at Vriic.
He added that, "our DGT Office promotes each research project as an opportunity to generate sustainable and high-value solutions for Chile."
Laben-Chile
For Dr. Abel Guarda, director and researcher at the center, this recognition “marks a milestone in the strengthening of Laben-Chile,” which has more than 20 years of experience in R&D&I in the field of packaging.
“The project will address the challenges of the productive sector, focusing on the solutions demanded by the industry and the generation of technologies that boost the economy of the packaging sector,” says Dr. Abel Guarda.
He emphasizes that “the aim is to meet the demand of this sector in research and development, but also to generate new services with an associative approach to industry, interdisciplinary, with a sustainable perspective. In this way, the national system of science, technology, knowledge, and innovation (CTKI) will be enriched with advanced human capital and cutting-edge technology.”
The researcher comments that “the invitation is open to all stakeholders in the food, packaging, and packaging sectors to let us know their requirements for industrial solutions and to work together to generate innovative products and services of high value and potential, adapted to national and international regulations.”
It should be noted that Laben-Chile coordinates a collaboration network aimed at strengthening sustainability and innovation in the sector. At the national level, it works with the Ministries of Health and Environment to develop policies and regulations on the circular economy and food safety, and maintains partnerships with Asipla, ANIR, Sofofa, the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), and the University of Bío-Bío (UBB), which contribute complementary scientific capabilities in biopolymers, industrial processes, and sustainable materials.
Internationally, it collaborates with the Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), the CSIC, and the Itene Institute (Spain), as well as being an active member of the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes (Iapri), consolidating its regional leadership in circular and safe packaging.
CIMAc
The goal of this new center is to accelerate the transformation of waste recycling assessment ecosystems related to Chile's Extended Producer Responsibility 20.920 (REP) legislation, as well as innovations in bio-based materials and components.
“This is a pioneering center of its kind and the first in Chile, focused on the development of materials, components, and systems to strengthen the productive sustainability of the recycling industry, based on secondary and bio-based raw materials, with local production and technologies that help to boost the industry,” says Dr. Alexandre Carbonnel, director and researcher at CIMAc.
The researcher points out that “this is very important, as it allows for dialogue with other centers that in some way promote sustainable construction at the national level.”
This proposal is led by Usach in partnership with the universities of Concepción (UdeC), Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI), and Tecnológica Metropolitana (UTEM), joined by the CTEC Technology Center and the Valdivia Biomaterials Laboratory (Labva), with the participation of companies and institutions such as Fundación Chile, Compañía Industrial El Volcán S.A., Cittá Urbana, Desafío Ambiente, Gestión B, and EBP Chile.