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AIA starts up project to strengthen innovation and technological transference

The Technological Node project, co-financed by Innova Chile of the CORFO, is a concrete and timely response of the Antofagasta Industrial Association (A.I.A) to the challenges of competitiveness that the small and mid-size supply companies in the mining industry have to assume.

There is a consensus that in order to increase the competitiveness of the small and mid-size companies, it is necessary to reinforce the development of strategies that incorporate innovation and technological transference as a distinguishing tool. The A.I.A., within its mission of reinforcing and consolidating productive links and of its commitment to strengthen the emergent companies of the II Region, generated the Technological Node project through Codetia, which looks to establish innovation and technological transference as a main point of business management.

Ricardo Muñoz, Head of Codetia’s Technological Node Project, explained that the initiative is framed within the necessity of integrating innovation and technological transference into the small and mid-size mining supply companies of the zone, as relevant factors for their business development, that allow strengthening their business opportunities. In this sense, there is a vision in the country for the subject, which has been materialized from the governmental scope through Innova Chile that finances 80% of the project. This integration between the private and public world has the final objective of assuming a more competitive position in the world, through technological progress and innovation, as well as the strengthening of human capital.

In first instance, as Ricardo Muñoz explained, the project will divide its action field between a group of companies that have had some type of action or approach in innovation and technology, and that therefore know something about the subject, and others that have no experience with this type of management in that sense. The idea – emphasized Muñoz- is to favor as many Pymes (small and mid-size companies) as possible in the region so that they get involved and internalize the importance of innovation and technological transference in order to increase competitiveness.The scope of the project, in synthesis, will integrate the small and mid-size mining supply companies in the region, linked to the A.I.A and those that are registered with the SICEP, in order to diffuse, foment, support, and advise them in subjects of innovation and technological transference.

AIA finalizes Sofofa 2006 Social
Scholarships Courses

The 2006 Sofofa Social Scholarships Courses held by the Antofagasta Industrial Association finalized during the first week of January, granting scholarships to 40 persons of vulnerable groups of the city, as well as to 30 relatives of employees of companies of the zone.

The initiative allowed the participation of women pertaining to the Home of Christ and the Growing Together Program of the National Women’s Service, relatives of the UCN and spouses of employees of Compañía Minera Zaldívar, who chose between the courses Hairdressing Level 1 or Cosmetology Assistant, highlighting their enthusiasm and commitment in each one of the specializations.



This training program was sponsored by Minera Meridian, Universidad Católica del Norte, Minera El Tesoro and Compañía Minera Zaldívar, and looked to favor the convergence of social actors, companies and government as a way of producing the pertinent Corporate Social Responsibility.

Fernando Cortez, AIA’s Manager of Strategic Projects, thanked the participation and collaboration in the courses because of the very significant impact that they had on each one of the persons who responded to a call for very concrete needs, and that finally allowed success thanks to the response of the participants. In fact, the success achieved was such that there is motivation to make a second level for 2007.

The first course was closed at the UCN with 10 relatives of employees that were granted a scholarship for the hairdressing course. The ceremony was attended by Jacqueline Fuentes, Director of Human Resources; Carmen Enríquez, Director of General Services and Horacio Ramirez, Head of the Development and Training Department. The second part corresponded to the group of women of the Home of Christ who were granted a scholarship by Minera Meridian, 15 in cosmetology and 15 in hairdressing. During the closing of the specialization courses, Meridian’s Human Resources Manager, Claudio Castro shared and talked with the students. The third course was cosmetology for 20 spouses of employees of Compañía Minera Zaldívar. In the occasion, Brina Vega, Zaldivar’s Head of Training hosted the certification ceremony. The final part was the certification in hairdressing for the 10 scholarships pertaining to the Growing Together Program of the National Women’s Service, granted by Minera El Tesoro. El Tesoro’s Carlos Spano Superintendent of External Affairs; Luis Poblete, Superintendent of Human Resources and Gonzalo Aguirre, Head of Personnel Development, shared with the students during the closing ceremony of the courses.