Innovate UK - Newton-Picarte Fund - Chile

The Newton-Picarte Fund - Chile

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Managed by the Department of Business, Innovation & Skills, the Newton Fund is part of the UK government’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) to emerging economies & developing countries around the world. .

Innovate UK is a delivery partner of the Newton Fund (www.newtonfund.ac.uk).

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The Fund has been established to develop long term sustainable growth & welfare of 16 partner countries through strengthening their science and innovation partnerships with the UK

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By working together on joint programmes with a research and innovation focus, the UK will deliver development objectives & at the same time build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships with partner countries that also bring benefits back to the UK. .

Innovate UK is collaborating with the Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA) Chile to build innovation capacity amongst the next generation of entrepreneurs in the agricultural, horticulture & forestry sectors in Chile. .

Under this contract, Innovate UK & FIA invite bids from suitable agencies to design & deliver a capacity building / mentoring programme to be run during August/September 2016 to March 2017 in Chile & the UK for a group of young Chilean entrepreneurs in the agri-food sector - .

These “Young Innovators” will typically be between 18-30 years old.

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Objectives & Outcomes of this Programme

The overall & specific objectives of this capacity building programme & the expected outcomes, are as follows:

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Overall Objective

Support the development of innovative entrepreneurship in young leaders in response to requirements / opportunities of the Chilean ‘agri-food’ sector.

Specific Objectives

• Build young innovators’ capacity to formulate business plans and innovative projects, related to ‘agri-food’ (inc agriculture, horticulture and forestry)
• Support a smaller group of young innovators to implement projects as part of their business plans
• Promote the creation of cooperation & collaboration networks between young Chileans and research / innovation institutions in both Chile & the UK
• Support a new generation of technologies in product development, services or product improvements in the Chilean ‘agri-food’.

Expected Outcomes

By receiving capacity building and mentoring related to innovation through a structured programme of activities, Young Innovators in Chile’s ‘agri-food’ (sector will be better positioned to: .

• Develop value-added products & services and take them to market at a faster rate than they were previously able to
• Improve the efficiency of their businesses through process & product improvement
• Secure a more productive career within the sector
• Overall, positively impact upon production & ensure better quality / competitiveness of the Chilean agricultural sector
• Ultimately, contribute to the economic development & welfare of Chile