Center for Circular Economy

The circular economy (C.E) has been defined as “a continuous cycle of positive development that conserves and enhances natural capital, optimizes resource use, and minimizes system risks by managing a finite amount of stock and renewable flows.” This has gained the attention of international organizations, governments, businesses and non-governmental bodies as a way forward towards economic, social and environmental sustainability (Schroeder, Anggraeni, & Weber, 2019). Such has been its importance, that it has been estimated at 4.5 trillion dollars the economic benefits it could produce by 2030 if implemented as a business model (Lacy & Rutqvist, 2015). In this context, CORFO called for proposals for the creation of a Circular Economy Technology Center for the Northern Macro Zone of the country that “would resolve the gaps in infrastructure, technological equipment and demand for innovation; and second, activate, diversify and sophisticate the current supply of products and services with high value and market potential (domestic and export). The above, for the development and commercial scaling of companies and potential new ventures, oriented to the circular economy, specifically in areas related to solar energy, lithium salts, lithium batteries and energy storage, metallic and non-metallic mining”. Responding to this call, the Center for Innovation and Circular Economy of Iquique, Universidad Arturo Prat, Universidad de Antofagasta, Universidad de Atacama, Universidad Católica del Norte, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad de Tarapacá, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Andes Pacific Technology ACCESS and Know Hub Chile, present their proposal for the creation of the center.

General Objective: To increase innovation and technology transfer based on the circular economy model, which will generate economic, social and environmental value in the northern macro-zone of Chile.

Specific Objectives:

+ Encourage the development and transfer of technologies (R&D), based on circular economy models, to be incorporated into the business value chains in the areas of solar energy, lithium salts, lithium batteries and energy storage, metallic and non-metallic mining in the northern macro-zone of the country. + Promote the diversification and sophistication of products and services based on circular economy models, through the promotion of technology-based entrepreneurship that are part of the extended value chain of the industry and trade tractor of the northern macro-zone, as well as those that enable the creation of new economic activities. + Support the development of technological infrastructure and the insertion of advanced human capital specialized in the implementation of circular economy models in the industry and commerce of the country’s northern macro-zone. + Articulate the business sector, academia, government and territory for the design and implementation of a macro regional circular economy strategy with economic, social and environmental impact that positions it as a national and international benchmark. + Position the circular economy as a development model for the country and the northern macro-zone as a benchmark for circularity. + Implement an international network for the positioning of the circular economy in Chile and the northern macro-zone. + Implement the Circular Economy Technology Center for the MZN with headquarters in Iquique.

The project highlights:

+ The participation of 11 of the most important research, development and technology transfer institutions in the country, led by the first circular economy center in Chile based in the northern macrozone. + The financial commitment of more than US$9,000,000. Composed by the contribution of the Government and Regional Council of Tarapacá and the companies Doña Inés de Collahuasi, BHP, Corpesca and Neptuno Pumps, which shows that the value proposition contained in this document has achieved the commitment of world-class institutions with a key role in the development of the circular economy in the country and the north of Chile. + A network of 21 international and national entities associated in circular economy, entrepreneurship, innovation, industrial associations, companies, SMEs, government and NGOs that show the potential strength to develop the circular economy at national level and the northern macro-zone through the Center.

Center for Circular Economy

The circular economy (C.E) has been defined as “a continuous cycle of positive development that conserves and enhances natural capital, optimizes resource use, and minimizes system risks by managing a finite amount of stock and renewable flows.” This has gained the attention of international organizations, governments, businesses and non-governmental bodies as a way forward towards economic, social and environmental sustainability (Schroeder, Anggraeni, & Weber, 2019). Such has been its importance, that it has been estimated at 4.5 trillion dollars the economic benefits it could produce by 2030 if implemented as a business model (Lacy & Rutqvist, 2015). In this context, CORFO called for proposals for the creation of a Circular Economy Technology Center for the Northern Macro Zone of the country that “would resolve the gaps in infrastructure, technological equipment and demand for innovation; and second, activate, diversify and sophisticate the current supply of products and services with high value and market potential (domestic and export). The above, for the development and commercial scaling of companies and potential new ventures, oriented to the circular economy, specifically in areas related to solar energy, lithium salts, lithium batteries and energy storage, metallic and non-metallic mining”. Responding to this call, the Center for Innovation and Circular Economy of Iquique, Universidad Arturo Prat, Universidad de Antofagasta, Universidad de Atacama, Universidad Católica del Norte, Universidad de Chile, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Universidad de Tarapacá, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Andes Pacific Technology ACCESS and Know Hub Chile, present their proposal for the creation of the center.

General Objective: To increase innovation and technology transfer based on the circular economy model, which will generate economic, social and environmental value in the northern macro-zone of Chile.

Specific Objectives:

+ Encourage the development and transfer of technologies (R&D), based on circular economy models, to be incorporated into the business value chains in the areas of solar energy, lithium salts, lithium batteries and energy storage, metallic and non-metallic mining in the northern macro-zone of the country. + Promote the diversification and sophistication of products and services based on circular economy models, through the promotion of technology-based entrepreneurship that are part of the extended value chain of the industry and trade tractor of the northern macro-zone, as well as those that enable the creation of new economic activities. + Support the development of technological infrastructure and the insertion of advanced human capital specialized in the implementation of circular economy models in the industry and commerce of the country’s northern macro-zone. + Articulate the business sector, academia, government and territory for the design and implementation of a macro regional circular economy strategy with economic, social and environmental impact that positions it as a national and international benchmark. + Position the circular economy as a development model for the country and the northern macro-zone as a benchmark for circularity. + Implement an international network for the positioning of the circular economy in Chile and the northern macro-zone. + Implement the Circular Economy Technology Center for the MZN with headquarters in Iquique.

The project highlights:

+ The participation of 11 of the most important research, development and technology transfer institutions in the country, led by the first circular economy center in Chile based in the northern macrozone. + The financial commitment of more than US$9,000,000. Composed by the contribution of the Government and Regional Council of Tarapacá and the companies Doña Inés de Collahuasi, BHP, Corpesca and Neptuno Pumps, which shows that the value proposition contained in this document has achieved the commitment of world-class institutions with a key role in the development of the circular economy in the country and the north of Chile. + A network of 21 international and national entities associated in circular economy, entrepreneurship, innovation, industrial associations, companies, SMEs, government and NGOs that show the potential strength to develop the circular economy at national level and the northern macro-zone through the Center.