Chile's industry and universities boost electromobility talent as new tech‑transfer law passes

Chile's emerging electromobility sector is addressing its shortage of specialised human capital by linking companies directly with universities and technical institutes. Reborn Electric Motors, a bus‑conversion firm, has its founders and commercial manager teaching at the Pontifical Catholic University’s engineering school, guiding theses, internships and research projects that tackle real‑world challenges. The model expands to technical schools and regional programmes, aiming to accelerate innovation and close the gap between design and operation.

At the same time, Chile has approved a new Technology Transfer Law intended to strengthen the link between research and the economy. The legislation recognises university‑driven technology commercialisation, permits researchers to hold equity in science‑based firms and creates a National Repository of scientific‑technical knowledge. While the law promises to boost productivity and open‑science practices, its success depends on defining "socially responsible" licensing and balancing open access with protection of proprietary information.