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| FONDEF | |
|---|---|
| Name | FONDEF |
| Native name | Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico |
| Formation | 1991 |
| Type | Public research funding agency |
| Headquarters | Santiago, Chile |
| Region served | Chile |
| Language | Spanish |
FONDEF
FONDEF is a Chilean public fund dedicated to promoting innovation and applied research and development through competitive grants to institutions, companies, and consortia. Created within the framework of national policy reforms, it acts as a bridge among universities, startups, industry actors, and public agencies to translate scientific knowledge into marketable technologies and services. Over decades it has influenced interactions among institutions such as Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, and enterprises across extractive, agricultural, and biotechnology sectors.
FONDEF was established in the aftermath of policy shifts that also touched institutions like the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica and reforms influenced by legislation such as the Ley de Bases de la Administración del Estado. Early projects linked to universities including Universidad de Concepción and Universidad Austral de Chile built on precedents from cooperative programs with international bodies like the World Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, and agencies such as National Science Foundation, reflecting models seen in programs at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University. In the 1990s and 2000s FONDEF funded consortia that partnered with firms in sectors comparable to Codelco, Antofagasta PLC, and agricultural exporters associated with CORFO initiatives. Shifts in national strategy during administrations of presidents such as Patricio Aylwin and Ricardo Lagos affected its mandate and budget, while later policy debates during the terms of Michelle Bachelet and Sebastián Piñera shaped priorities toward entrepreneurship and commercialization.
FONDEF operates under governance arrangements involving ministries and agencies like the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, CONICYT in its historical role, and coordination with entities similar to CORFO and regional development agencies. Its decision-making bodies have included steering committees with representatives from universities such as Universidad de Santiago de Chile, private sector chambers like Cámara Nacional de Comercio, and public research centers akin to Centro de Investigaciones Científicas (Chile). The agency uses peer review panels drawing experts comparable to those at Royal Society, Academia Chilena de Ciencias, and international advisory boards with participants from institutions such as Imperial College London, ETH Zurich, and University of California, Berkeley. Administrative procedures align with public procurement frameworks exemplified by national audit practices and oversight by bodies like the Contraloría General de la República.
FONDEF’s portfolio has included competitive calls for applied research, technology transfer grants, proof-of-concept awards, and seed financing for spin-offs involving partners such as SODIMAC-type retailers or industrial groups analogous to Grupo Luksic. Instruments resemble international schemes like Horizon 2020 pillar programs, Small Business Innovation Research mechanisms, and venture-building initiatives inspired by Y Combinator. Specific program types have targeted sectors including mining, where firms like Anglo American and state enterprises similar to ENAP operate; aquaculture, with parallels to companies like Salmones Camanchaca; and forestry linked to conglomerates such as Arauco. Project selection criteria emphasize technological readiness, market potential, and capacity of applicant teams from institutions like Universidad Católica del Norte and regional incubators modeled after Startup Chile.
FONDEF-funded initiatives have yielded patents, spin-off enterprises, and collaborations between research centers and firms comparable to Empresas CMPC. Notable projects include technology transfer successes in precision agriculture associated with universities like Universidad Austral de Chile, biosensor development in partnership with biotech firms similar to Novozymes collaborations, and mining process innovations applied in operations of companies akin to BHP. Outcomes include commercialization of prototypes, licensing agreements with multinational corporations such as Siemens, and capacity-building at regional centers like Centro de Innovación UC Anacleto Angelini. The fund’s role in fostering entrepreneurship can be compared to impacts from accelerators such as Techstars and Plug and Play Tech Center in creating ecosystems linking researchers, investors, and corporations.
Evaluations by national audit institutions and academic assessments from centers such as Centro de Estudios Públicos and think tanks like CIEPLAN have highlighted successes in transforming research into applied outputs but also raised concerns about metrics, sustainability, and concentration of awards among established institutions including Universidad de Chile and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Critics draw parallels to debates in countries with programs like UK Research and Innovation about balancing basic research support versus applied funding. Issues cited include bureaucratic complexity akin to criticisms of European Research Council calls, potential capture by large industrial groups reminiscent of controversies involving firms like SQM, and regional disparities similar to development gaps addressed by OECD reports.
FONDEF has engaged in bilateral and multilateral partnerships with organizations comparable to European Commission programs, bilateral cooperation with agencies like Agence Française de Développement and GIZ (Germany), and joint calls with development banks such as the Inter-American Development Bank. Collaborations have linked researchers to networks at institutions including University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, and regional hubs like Universidad de São Paulo. These partnerships support knowledge exchange, co-financing models resembling EUREKA initiatives, and participation in global value chains involving multinationals such as ABB and Schneider Electric.