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We work with organisations in almost all fields of science – from food security to astrophysics. We link with Latin American organisations through researcher exchanges, collaboration agreements, technology transfer and more.

CSIRO Chile

In October 2013, we created our first offshore legal entity, CSIRO Chile Research Foundation. The Foundation is the principal vehicle for collaboration between CSIRO and Chile, is seen as a model for deeper international collaboration in the future.

The Foundation originated in the Chilean government's International Center of Mining and Minerals Processing, in which CSIRO was selected as a partner in 2011.

The CSIRO Chile Research Foundation's International Centre of Excellence in Mining and Mineral Processing is one of first four centres established under the International Centres of Excellence program.

CSIRO Chile Research Foundation is the principal vehicle for collaboration between CSIRO and Chile. With nodes in Santiago and Antofagasta, the Centre will draw on the expertise of its key research bodies – CSIRO, the University of Chile, the University of Antofagasta and CICITEM – to cultivate deep international collaboration and build R&D capacity across the mining and minerals sectors. The Centre's key industry partners are Codelco, BHP Billiton, Anglo American Chile, Antofagasta Minerals and Glencore Xstrata.

The Centre will help address the big challenges facing both the Australian and Chilean mining industries including deeper mining; lower grade ores; increasing energy costs; demands for higher water efficiency; and human capital development. The Foundation is looking at a number of other opportunities beyond mining, especially in the related energy, fisheries and water space.

The Centre will provide Chile and Australia with an opportunity to collaborate to create solutions for our current and future challenges, and to secure the long-term viability of our minerals industries.

The Foundation will also take steps to deal with the chronic global shortage in capability by opening up a large number of postgraduate training opportunities. In addition, it will help grow the vital Mining Equipment, Technology and Services sector in both countries.

Collaboration partners in Latin America

Our collaborators in Latin America include:

  • Anglo American Chile
  • Antofagasta Minerals, Chile
  • BHP Billiton
  • Centro de Investigación Científico Tecnológico para la Minería (CICITEM), Chile
  • Codelco
  • EMBRAPA, Brazil
  • Fibria, Brazil
  • Glencore Xstrata
  • National Industrial Technology Institute (INTI), Argentina
  • Northwestern Center of Biological Research (CIBNOR) Mexico
  • Petrobras, Brazil
  • Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile
  • Universidad de Chile
  • Vale.

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