The biotechnological world gathers in Chile for its first international forum
Published: November 17, 2010
"Bio-economy: Opportunities in Chile" is the name of this event that has gathered around 120 people interested in Biotechnology, which today are part of a large number of companies in the country.
It is one of the most dynamic sectors of the Chilean economy. Its yearly growth is in a steady rise and its focus is on the areas of agriculture, health, aquaculture, forestry and industrial biotechnology.
Also, the country has highly qualified professionals on this area, as well as programs and initiatives that make the Biotechnology sector an attractive place for investment.
Therefore, to focus the Biotechnological activity in the economy of the country was the objective of this International Forum "Bio-economy: Opportunities in Chile", an event that gathered around 120 players from this sector.
During this event, discussion and presentation boards were held for the different subjects related to the influence of Biotechnology in Chile; Biotechnology for the generation of energy; Biotechnology for the industry; and the virtues of Chile for the development of Biotechnology.
The event was opened by the Executive Vice-President of Corfo, Marco Riveros, who pointed out that "Chile has a small but strong community of scientists and innovators that use Biotechnology as a tool for progress; an emerging nucleus of small biotechnological companies; and public institutions and a regulatory system that has an international prestige".
About this same matter, he stressed out the success that this sector has had in the development and production of seeds with world known companies such as Pioneer and Syngenta, located in the Arica y Parinacota Region, as well as the case of Monsanto in the O'Higgins Region. He also emphasized the projects of companies such as Synthon that are dedicated to the pharmaceutical production and Bayer as part of the Alimentec Consortium that produces Natural Astaxanthin.
Biotechnological Industry
There are around 200 companies of the Biotechnological sector installed in Chile, whose efforts are focused in two main areas: the ones that use Biotechnology to improve their competitiveness in the export sectors and the ones that use it to create innovative products for the existing and emerging markets.
Even though there are outstanding cases such as the companies that produce seeds, nowadays there are more companies that look for our country for research and development in the clinical-pharmaceutical sector and other areas that support the growth of sectors such as the food, aquaculture and forestry, among others.
InvestChile of Corfo, promotes and provides investments in business niches that aim to strengthen this sector. In order to do so, it seeks to include new and more players to foster the technological upgrade of the business platform, as well as the local capabilities.
In order to support the materialization of investment, Corfo, through InvestChile offers information services; support in the provision of the different project stages; access to business networks and financing sources, support in the localization, as well as the search for investment partners.