The^1st Meeting of CONICYT Research Centers was held at the Manquehue Hotel in Santiago on September 29 and 30. Representatives from the various regional centers participated in this event, as well as representatives from the Associative Research Program (PIA, for its Spanish acronym) and FONDAP (Fund for Financing Research Centers in Priority Areas), including SERC Chile.

In both sessions, delegates from each research center discussed their experiences, work methodologies, and organizational challenges before an audience that included CONICYT officials.

The presentation by Rodrigo Palma, director of SERC Chile, took place on the second day, during the second thematic session titled “The Contribution of Research Centers to Public Policy,” which was introduced by María José Menéndez, director of CONICYT’s Department of Studies and Strategic Management, who encouraged all scientists to explore other areas in order to make a significant impact on society.

“The centers are called upon to make an impact not only in science, but also in other areas such as health, the environment, culture, and education, among others, in a way that allows us to see the impact on development,” said Menéndez.

During his presentation, Rodrigo Palma emphasized the importance of public policies in relation to the country’s energy development and also highlighted the various partnerships the center has established on several occasions, such as the participation of five SERC researchers on the Advisory Council created by the Ministry of Energy and the consulting work conducted for congressional committees.

“SERC’s mission is to engage closely with real-world issues and not focus solely on scientific fields. Twenty years from now, Chile could become one of South America’s leading exporters of solar energy and other non-conventional energy sources. “Our ‘moon landing’ dream is to have 12 plots of land in the north of the country to generate 4,800 kW. However, we need to inspire the country and have supportive public policies; otherwise, this will be impossible,” he added.

Download Rodrigo Palma’s presentation here.