CORFO centers

Center for the Technological Advancement and Sustainability of Small and Mid-Sized Construction Businesses

This initiative, funded by CORFO, aims to decrease the gaps in technology and human capital that affect the construction industry in Chile, impacting more than 400,000 workers across five regions of Chile. This center is supported by the Office for Outreach in Construction (UC DECON, Spanish acronym) within the UC School of Civil Construction.

Marine Energy Research and Innovation Center (MERIC)

The Marine Energy Research and Innovation Center (MERIC) is working on extracting energy from ocean waves and tides, ultimately aiding to diversify the energy grid. This work will aid towards converting Chile into an international reference for the development of renewable marine energy.

MERIC is a consortium of institutions directed by the French company DCNS. Co-participants of this consortium include the Pontificia Católica de Chile (through UC researchers in the areas of engineering, the biological sciences, and chemistry), the Universidad Austral de Chile, Inria Foundation – Chile, Fundación Chile, Enel Green Power Chile, and Chilectra.

For more information, please visit the center website.

Interdisciplinary Center for Productivity and Sustainable Construction

This center was founded in 2016 and is led by Professor Luis Fernando Alarcón, director for the School of Engineering Outreach Office. Professors Alondra Chamorro, Claudio Mourgues, Marcelo González, Mauricio López, Ricardo Serpell, and Sergio Vero, all from the Department of Construction Engineering and Management, also participate in this center.

Center for Solar Energy Technologies (CSET)

The purpose of this center is to conduct applied research for the advancement of the solar industry in Chile. This field includes areas such as the generation of solar electricity and solar heat for use in industry and in water-treatment processes.

This center is overseen by the Fraunhofer Chile Research Center, the national counterpart of which is the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile School of Engineering.

Technological Center for Innovation in Foods (CeTA)

The Technological Center for Innovation in Foods (CeTA, Spanish acronym) is an initiative supported by CORFO and that aims to strengthen the technological capacities and commercial potential of the health food industry. Center participants include the Universidad Católica, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de la Frontera, Universidad de Talca, Fundación Chile, and Fundación Fraunhofer.

For more information, please visit the center website.

Communications and Information Research and Innovation Center (CIRIC)

The Communications and Information Research and Innovation Center (CIRIC) is co-financed by CORFO and the Inria Foundation – Chile, with the Chilean Inria branch being the representative office for all of Latin America. Inria is a French public entity, the largest in Europe, and specializes in the computer sciences, control theory, and applied mathematics. Inria is dedicated to researching and developing information and communication technologies.

Eight Chilean universities participate in this center, including the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Universidad de la Frontera, Universidad Diego Portales, and Universidad de Concepción.