For the first time in 100% online mode, and under the title “Science, Technology and Innovation: Engine to promote Chile’s post-pandemic sustainable development,” the meeting was followed via streaming by 5 thousand attendees through social networks with more than 480 thousand views on Emol TV.

In its sixteenth version, the Seminar was inaugurated by Copec-UC Foundation chairman Roberto Angelini, who highlighted the importance of science and technology in the current context. “Today, when we are going through the deepest global crisis since World War II, a historic moment in which many of the fragilities of our societies have been exposed, is when, more than ever, we need the capabilities of scientific research, technology and innovation to address the daunting and new challenges of the present and the future. If there is something positive that can be drawn from the pandemic, it is that it has made the radical relevance of science visible throughout the planet. Science is, neither more nor less, our best tool to face and protect ourselves from this and any other health crisis that may come.”

Additionally, Angelini highlighted the extraordinary contribution that the Foundation has made to the team led by Dr. Alexis Kalergis, who is working on a vaccine project against Covid-19, as a concrete way to bet on science and research in the country.

For his part, the Catholic University rector and FCUC vice president Ignacio Sánchez underscored the role of universities in the current health crisis. “They have collaborated greatly in the development of innovative ideas that can deal with this serious pandemic. Along with the University of Chile, we have participated in the Social Roundtable and there all the contribution of an articulated university system has been delivered, from Arica to Punta Arenas.”

Outstanding local and international key players participated in the meeting. The first speaker was former Finish Prime Minister Esko Aho, who, in that position, was responsible for steering the country during the 1990s recession, implementing strong reforms and achieving Finland’s European Union membership. In addition, its public policies, based on R&D&I, were key for the Nordic nation to take a leap towards development.

Then, Mexican economist Lorena Rivera, lead researcher of the Global Innovation Index (GII), introduced the thirteenth edition of the study providing a ranking and analysis of 130 world economies.

Finally, the Minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation, Andrés Couve, reported what is being done in terms of public policies in matters of Research and development at the government level, highlighting all the innovations and breakthroughs that have arisen as a result of the pandemic.