International experts lead a day of innovation and entrepreneurship in Punta Arenas.

More than 300 participants gathered in Punta Arenas for Tech Horizon Magallanes, a two-day event that brought together leading experts, authorities, companies, and entrepreneurs to explore the frontiers of technology and its development opportunities for the Magallanes Region. The event was organized by the Chilean Network of Technology Managers (Red de Gestores Tecnológicos de Chile – REDGT), with the support of Corfo and co-execution by the University of Magallanes (UMAG).

The opening day —held at the Ernesto Livacic Auditorium of the University of Magallanes— focused on “Artificial Intelligence, Frontier Technology, and its Global-Local Impact.” It began with the international keynote “Driving Innovation in Magallanes with Artificial Intelligence: Applications and Opportunities in Key Sectors,” delivered by Daniel San Martín, an economist and AI expert based in London.

The event continued with a segment where companies such as ASMAR, ENAP, and the startup Humos de la Patagonia presented their technological challenges. This was followed by presentations from the technology transfer hubs APTA, Hubtec, and Know Hub, focused on “Support for Regional Entrepreneurship.” The morning session concluded with a discussion panel on “Technological Innovation in Extreme Environments for Magallanes’ Strategic Sectors,” featuring prominent UMAG academics and researchers, along with representatives from Edelmag.

On Friday, October 17, the spotlight shifted to “Green Hydrogen and Opportunities for Innovation in the Magallanes Region.” The day began with a talk titled “Investment for Sustainable Ventures” by Jaime Trainor, CEO of Futuro Perfecto —a Madrid-based consulting firm specializing in supporting deep tech startups.

Another session, “Ecosystem Linkages Around the Green Hydrogen Value Chain,” featured the Technological Hub for the Development of New Energies in Magallanes (NEMa), a project by Fundación Chile and event partner. This was followed by a panel discussion with executives from ENAP Magallanes, Grupo Singular, and HIF Magallanes, who shared their perspectives on the development of green hydrogen in the region.

The event concluded with the final international conference, “The Future of Green Hydrogen in Global Energy,” presented by María Agustina Ravotti, technical advisor at the Netherlands-based firm Impact Hydrogen, who shared insights into the global potential of this clean energy source.

Mobilizing the Local Innovation Ecosystem

For María José Navajas, Regional Director of Corfo Magallanes, Tech Horizon Magallanes represents “a tremendously valuable contribution thanks to the participation of international experts. Magallanes has been preparing over the past two to three years in entrepreneurship and innovation, especially in science-based and tech-driven ventures. Having regional companies and entrepreneurs share space with experts who bring such relevant topics is of great value to us. This activity has provided an opportunity for conversation, discussion, and learning.”

Álvaro Ossa, President of the Red de Gestores Tecnológicos de Chile, added:

“One of our fundamental pillars is to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer across the country. That’s why we’ve come together here in Punta Arenas, in the Region of Magallanes and Chilean Antarctica. We are very pleased to have gathered more than 300 people from academia, business, and entrepreneurship sectors.”

Similarly, Sergio Radic, UMAG’s Director of Innovation, noted:

“We are very happy with the strong public attendance. It has had a significant regional impact. We believe it’s essential to strengthen the innovation ecosystem, foster more technology transfer, and promote entrepreneurship. These types of activities help us build valuable connections toward that goal.”

Organized by REDGT, supported by Corfo, and co-executed by the University of Magallanes, Tech Horizon Magallanes also featured participation from NEMa of Fundación Chile as an associate partner, the Technology Transfer Hubs APTA, Know Hub, and Hubtec, and the Hub FPyme Magallanes as a supporting entity.