The University of California, Davis, has been selected by the Chilean government to form a new partnership establishing the UC Davis Life Sciences Innovation Center in Chile.

With a projected budget of $12 million over its first three years, the center will foster collaborative work among experts from UC Davis and Chile aimed at transforming public-sector research into regional, national and global business opportunities.

The Chilean government will fund half the budget through a $6 million grant from Corporación de Fomento de la Producción de Chile, or CORFO, the country’s economic development agency. The other $6 million will come from industry and university partner cost-sharing. Included in that amount is $1.5 million from UC Davis. Research would take place at UC Davis and partner institutions.

The center’s long-term goal is to support research, development and economic competitiveness in Chile and California with a focus on the agricultural industry, including plant breeding, postharvest and climate-change technologies. Agriculture is the second largest industry for Chile. California is the world’s fifth largest supplier of food and agricultural commodities, and UC Davis consistently achieves top ranking for its agricultural programs.

“This new Innovation Center will also help support and advance UC Davis’ goals to promote economic opportunities for California and throughout the world. And, it furthers the work of our excellent agricultural programs,” said Linda P.B. Katehi, chancellor of UC Davis. “It also follows the goals and mission of the UC Global Food Initiative to develop, demonstrate and export solutions — throughout California, the U.S. and the world — for food security, health and sustainability."

The new partnership would accelerate the transfer of discoveries into commercial products, create new opportunities in the global economy and strengthen a relationship between Chile and California that began in 1963. Since then, UC and the UC Davis campus have continued to launch collaborative research projects with Chile in such areas as seed biotechnology, grape growing and wine making, and water management.

The center would work with participating universities, research institutions and industry to identify opportunities and set priorities for research and development activities that address industry needs. Working with its local partner will allow the UC Davis center to provide short and long-term solutions to industry and facilitate innovation.

UC Davis is growing California

At UC Davis, we and our partners are nourishing our state with food, economic activity and better health, playing a key part in the state’s role as the top national agricultural producer for more than 50 years. UC Davis is participating in UC’s Global Food Initiative launched by UC President Janet Napolitano, harnessing the collective power of UC to help feed the world and steer it on the path to sustainability.