Chilean researchers travel to the UK for training
The Newton-Picarte Fund supported Chilean researchers to participate in the Royal Academy of Engineering's innovation programme.
![Newton-Picarte Fund.](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a60e3e5e5274a44418121bb/s300_newton-picarte.jpg)
Newton-Picarte Fund.
The Newton-Picarte Fund supported VIU researchers to participate in the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme.
Under the LIF scheme, 15 Chilean researchers, who are already VIU CONICYT grant receivers, travelled to London and Oxford to attend a 10 day residential programme. The researchers were chosen based on the excellence of their research, the potential of their innovation, the potential for idea commercialisation, the social and economic benefits of their innovation, as well as their potential as entrepreneurs.
The programme, funded by the UK government, was divided in two parts. Part one was a tailored and comprehensive training programme in innovation leadership – the opportunity to learn transferable skills, business modelling, customer development, pitching techniques and the chance to develop their business plan. Part two allowed the Fellows to apply the skills and knowledge they developed in week 1 and gain direct experience within a UK-based technology driven organization, where they had the opportunity to tackle a genuine commercial challenge faced by that organization.
The programme involved engaging with a number of Santiago based universities, as well as a wide geographical variety of universities in Chile including; Universidad de Concepción, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Universidad Católica del Maule, Universidad de Valparaíso y Universidad Católica de Valparaíso.
The primary objective of the programme was to promote innovation and entrepreneurial skills development and activity, and long term innovation partnership and exchange between the UK and Chile.
Further information
For more information about this visit, contact Hayley Baker, Newton-Picarte Fund Officer, British Embassy, Santiago.
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