SOFOFA Hub industrial technology initiatives in Chile

The SOFOFA Hub has undertaken several initiatives to promote technological innovation and industrial efficiency within Chile. In late September 2026, the organization conducted an industry tour in the Antofagasta region, visiting sites such as the Extremely Large Telescope construction and the ESO Paranal Observatory to observe the integration of technology into industrial processes. Rosario Navarro, president of SOFOFA, noted the goal was to “foster collaboration across different sectors to accelerate the adoption of automation, data, and artificial intelligence.”

Following this, the SOFOFA Hub launched the second 2026 cycle of its Venture Client program, involving five major companies: Colbún, CMPC, Molynor, Polpaico, and Pucobre. This program targets specific operational and sustainability challenges across the mining, energy, materials, and cellulose sectors. Objectives include reducing input consumption by at least 30%, decreasing fine particles in waterless processes by over 60%, and extending the lifespan of industrial components. Specific projects range from developing digital twins for mining blasts at Pucobre to implementing real-time monitoring for cellulose production at CMPC.