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Council of Rectors (Cruch) asked the government for a new public tender of the Institute of Clean Technologies, after the disputed award to a consortium of universities in the United States.
Through a letter, the Cruch questioned Corfo’s decision and indicated that the award is a high-impact decision, not only due to the associated amounts of 193 million dollars in 10 years, but because the initiative represents a unique opportunity for the development of research and the strengthening of capacities for technology transfer and innovation in Chile.
In the Council of Rectors they consider it nonsense that an international consortium, with few links with the local mining and energy world, is the one who leads the project, accusing a lack of transparency, for which they called on the Government to reverse the decision and implement new tender that gives guarantees of objectivity, transparency and fairness.
He President of the G9 and rector of the Universidad Católica del Maule, Diego Durán, He also questioned the alleged expertise of the Corfo council to adopt this measure, indicating that this is a political and not a technical decision.
He rector of the Catholic University, Ignacio Sánchez, He was struck by the fact that with an excellent international evaluation the Association for the Development of Clean Technologies, made up of schools with a well-known trajectory in research and technology; in addition to mining and energy companies established in Chile; the Industrial Association of Antofagasta, science and technology centers from Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, among others, could not be awarded the initiative, demanding greater transparency from Corfo.
Pablo Terrazas, Executive Vice President of Corfo, He discarded the questions and assured that it was a transparent international contest where the best project was sought, regardless of the nationality of who elaborated it, adding that he understood the frustration of some rectors.
The rector of the University of Chile and president of the Consortium of State schools, Ennio Vivaldi, He pointed out that there were very striking things in the awarding of the project, such as that the Corfo board members who were supposed to deliberate did not go, sending replacements, so they are analyzing the process in detail.
In addition, he ruled out that a preferential treatment is being requested.
The rectors requested that an investigative commission be set up in the Chamber of Deputies and Deputies and that the Comptroller’s Office take notice of this process of awarding funds.
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