Michelle Bachelet, president of Chile, Linda P.B. Katehi, chancellor of the University of California, Davis, and U.S. Ambassador Michael A. Hammer today (April 21) opened the 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis-Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center in Santiago, 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 center is funded through a grant from the Corporaci籀n de Fomento de la Producci籀n de Chile, or CORFO, the countrys economic development agency, and industry and university partner cost-sharing. Research would take place at 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis and partner institutions. The center is led by founding Executive Director Alan B. Bennett, distinguished professor of plant sciences at 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis.
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.
51勛圖窪蹋 Davis has had a long history of collaboration with Chile, and the Life Sciences Innovation Center now adds to that legacy, said Katehi. We look forward to the tremendous discoveries and economic opportunity that will be the hallmark of this new center.
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. The two partners share a Mediterranean climate conducive to producing similar food crops, but have alternate growing seasons, allowing for a vibrant international trade in fresh fruits and vegetables.
A group of more than 50 Chileans who studied agricultural sciences at 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis during the 1960s and 1970s are widely credited with helping to transform Chile into one of the world's leading fresh-fruit exporters.
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. President Bachelet visited the 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis campus in 2008.
The new 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's Global Food Initiative
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
Andy Fell, Research news (emphasis: biological and physical sciences, and engineering), 530-752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu
Alan Bennett, 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis-Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center, (530) 752-1411, abbennett@ucdavis.edu
Francisco Diaz, 51勛圖窪蹋 Davis-Chile Life Sciences Innovation Center, pascual.diaz@gmail.com