Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID)

Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID)
Name	Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Native name	Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo
Formation	2018
Type	Funding agency
Headquarters	Santiago, Chile
Leader title	Director

Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) is a Chilean public institution created to coordinate and fund scientific research and technological development across Chile, succeeding earlier bodies to centralize policy instruments. It operates within Chilean national frameworks and interacts with regional governments, universities, and private sector actors to implement research programs and scholarships. ANID administers competitive funding lines, national fellowship schemes, and strategic initiatives affecting higher education and innovation ecosystems.

History

ANID was established by Chilean legislative and executive actions in the late 2010s, succeeding precursor institutions such as the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica and interacting with ministries like the Ministry of Education (Chile) and the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (Chile). Its creation followed policy debates influenced by reports from bodies including the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and recommendations from the Inter-American Development Bank, aiming to align Chilean policy with models observed in agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología, and Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT). Early directors navigated relationships with universities like the University of Chile, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and regional institutions including Universidad de Concepción and Universidad de Santiago de Chile. Legislative frameworks referenced precedents from agencies such as the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development and were debated alongside reforms affecting the Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas.

Mandate and Functions

ANID's statutory mandate includes funding basic and applied research, administering fellowships, and promoting technology transfer, aligning with strategies from entities like the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (Chile), the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, and international partners such as CERN and the European Commission. It issues grants comparable to instruments administered by the National Institutes of Health, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science while coordinating national agendas referenced in documents from the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. ANID designs calls informed by evaluation standards used by the Wellcome Trust, Horizon 2020, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support applicants from institutions like Universidad de La Frontera, Universidad Austral de Chile, and Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez.

Organizational Structure

The agency is organized into directorates and departments that mirror structures in organizations such as the National Science Foundation, European Research Council, and Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. Leadership roles engage with advisory councils drawing expertise from academics at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, researchers affiliated with Centro de Estudios Científicos (CECs), and representatives from regional governments like the Intendencia de la Región Metropolitana. Administrative units manage scholarship programs, peer review panels including reviewers associated with institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, and University of Cambridge, and thematic offices coordinating with centers like the Centro de Modelamiento Matemático and the Centro de Investigación en Ecosistemas de la Patagonia.

Funding Programs and Grants

ANID administers national grant competitions that parallel grant lines such as the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and the European Research Council calls, offering instruments for early-career investigators, consolidated research centers, and large consortia. Programs include doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships akin to awards from Fulbright Program, grants for centers comparable to Center of Excellence (research), and targeted funds for sectors highlighted by institutions like the Comisión Nacional de Energía (Chile), Servicio Nacional de Pesca y Acuicultura, and the Agencia de Cooperación Internacional de Chile. Peer review processes reflect practices used by the National Institutes of Health, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, and the Australian Research Council.

Research and Innovation Initiatives

ANID supports thematic initiatives in fields including astronomy, biotechnology, environmental sciences, and data science, partnering with observatories such as ALMA Observatory, institutions like the European Southern Observatory, and national facilities including the Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Chile. It funds projects in areas relevant to industries represented by Empresas CMPC, Codelco, and SQM, and collaborates with research units such as the Instituto de Sistemas Complejos de Ingeniería and the Millennium Institute. Initiatives have targeted challenges aligned with international efforts from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Fund, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Partnerships and International Cooperation

ANID maintains bilateral and multilateral cooperation with organizations including the European Commission, National Science Foundation, Japan Science and Technology Agency, and regional entities like the Andean Community and Mercosur research networks. It manages mobility agreements with programs such as the Erasmus+ and the Fulbright Program, and technical cooperation with development banks like the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank. Collaborative projects have been established with universities including University of Oxford, Harvard University, University of São Paulo, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, and research institutes like CERN and the International Potato Center.

Impact, Evaluation, and Controversies

Evaluations of ANID reference metrics and audits comparable to those used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and reports by the Comptroller General of the Republic of Chile, and outcomes are discussed in academic forums such as the Latin American Studies Association and the International Science Council. Impact assessments cite increased publication outputs at institutions like University of Chile and growth in international collaborations with partners such as Max Planck Society and CNRS. Controversies have involved debates over allocation fairness similar to disputes seen in agencies like the National Science Foundation and the European Research Council, tensions with university leadership in groups like the Consejo de Rectores de las Universidades Chilenas, and public scrutiny informed by media outlets analogous to El Mercurio and La Tercera.

Category:Research funding organizations