Regional Regional Program of Scientific and Technological Research

Knowing in detail the operation and scientific work of the Regional, CEAP, was the main objective of the visit of the President of CONICYT and National Science Award in the year 2008, Dr.. José Miguel Aguilera, to the region of Maule.

The Centre for Studies in Food Processing, CEAP, is an organization funded by CONICYT and the Regional Government. This type of center, present in most regions of Chile, to decentralize science to achieve, among other things, improve competitiveness indices from scientific development (world countries that have had greater economic development have invested heavily in research development), mobilize human capital to regions, and form advanced human capital in specific regional issues specific contingency.

"This country has a great scientific tradition, we are a young country in science, but I am sure that this pathway, which is probably the only, selling knowledge, instead of natural resources, is how to improve the competitiveness of a region and country. It is necessary to explore this avenue, you have to go looking for the best options, hay que ir encantando a personas y hay que ir mostrando ejemplos icónicos que hagan que otras personas realicen cosas nuevas y crean en la ciencia. CONICYT está haciendo eso y lo interesante es que hace ya varios años lo está haciendo también en regiones”, noted Dr.. Aerie.

En el caso del CEAP, este Centro orienta sus esfuerzos a mejorar la competitividad de la agroindustria de los alimentos procesados, through the generation of new products, mejora de los procesos y el progreso de la sustentabilidad de este sector.

La visita, que consideró reuniones con la máxima autoridad regional, Rodrigo Galilea, y con los representantes de las instituciones socias del Centro, incluyó también visitas a proyectos que el CEAP está desarrollando en conjunto con la Universidad de Talca, donde destacan, for example, those looking to add value to the agro-industrial waste (that are now disposed of as waste) and the development of healthy snack.

"Makes about 12 CONICYT years began creating these regional centers such as the CEAP, with the aim of promoting the development of science in regions. With the background that I have this particular Center, which in recent times has made a major reorganization and a focus on certain priority issues, suggest that sponsorship will be very confronting its assessment of continuity that will suffer within a short time ", emphasized Aguilera.