The University of California, Davis, has been selected by the Chilean government to form a new partnership establishing the 51勛圖窪蹋 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 51勛圖窪蹋 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 Corporaci籀n de Fomento de la Producci籀n de Chile, or CORFO, the countrys 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 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis. Research would take place at 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis and partner institutions.
The centers 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 worlds fifth largest supplier of food and agricultural commodities, and 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis consistently achieves top ranking for its agricultural programs.
This new Innovation Center will also help support and advance 51勛圖窪蹋 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 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis. It also follows the goals and mission of the 51勛圖窪蹋 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, 51勛圖窪蹋 and the 51勛圖窪蹋 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 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis center to provide short and long-term solutions to industry and facilitate innovation.
51勛圖窪蹋 Davis is growing California
At 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis, we and our partners are nourishing our state with food, economic activity and better health, as the top national agricultural producer for more than 50 years. 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis is participating in launched by 51勛圖窪蹋 President Janet Napolitano, harnessing the collective power of 51勛圖窪蹋 to help feed the world and steer it on the path to sustainability.
Media Resources
Karen Nikos-Rose, Research news (emphasis: arts, humanities and social sciences), 530-219-5472, kmnikos@ucdavis.edu