What Centro Nacional de Pilotaje does

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje (CNP) is a Chilean non-profit technology validation center for the mining sector, founded in 2018 and incorporated as a private non-profit corporation in 2020. It operates as a neutral third-party intermediary that tests, pilots, and validates mining technologies at multiple scales across seven sites in Chile, with offices in Las Condes (Santiago) and Antofagasta. CNP serves both technology developers (from early-stage startups to established equipment providers) and end customers (large and mid-tier mining companies), reducing the trust gap that typically slows adoption of new mining technologies. Its service portfolio spans direct piloting, partner-site piloting (Pilotaje Socios), technology monitoring (Vigilancia Tecnológica), specialized studies, and training, and it has launched dedicated platforms for Direct Lithium Extraction (Plataforma EDL), Rare Earth Elements, and Green Hydrogen (H2V), plus entry-level programs (Mi Primer Pilotaje, Programa de Acceso a Pilotos) to broaden startup access. The organization is anchored by a CLP 9,000 million 10-year commitment from CORFO (49.65% of total 10-year budget of CLP 18,000M), co-financed by partner mining companies and four founding universities (Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Santa María, Universidad de Antofagasta), and is internationally benchmarked through a partnership with Norcat (Canada). Anchor mining customers include Codelco, Anglo American, BHP, ENAMI, Albemarle, and CMP, and CNP also coordinates with SERNAGEOMIN, CCHEN, AgenciaSE, and accelerators such as Expande, Minnovex, and Startuplab.01. Revenue is generated on a project-quote basis with co-financing from public grants and corporate partners; in 2023 CNP reported service revenue above CLP 790 million, up from approximately CLP 690 million in 2022, and is led by CEO Andrés González Cornejo.

Name

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje

Legal name

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje

Website

https://pilotaje.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje is a Chilean non-profit that provides neutral, multi-scale piloting and validation of mining technologies for large and mid-tier miners, technology developers, and government agencies, operating across seven test sites and dedicated lithium, rare earth, and green hydrogen platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Condes

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Servicios de Pilotaje y Validación Tecnológica: Core service revenue from conducting pilot tests and technology validation for mining companies and technology developers. Services include protocol design, testing execution, and technical reporting.
2. Vigilancia Tecnológica e Inteligencia de Mercado: Technology monitoring and market intelligence services to help companies identify technological trends and opportunities in the mining sector.
3. Capacitaciones y Estudios: Training services and specialized studies for the mining industry on piloting methodologies and technology validation protocols.
4. Análisis de Protocolos de Prueba: Technical analysis and development of testing protocols for mining technology validation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje (CNP) is a non-profit technology piloting and validation center for the mining industry. It conducts independent pilot tests of new mining technologies at scales ranging from laboratory to industrial, using proprietary protocols aligned with international mining standards, at its own facilities and at partner mining operations across Chile. Supporting services include technology surveillance/market intelligence, training and specialized studies, and programs such as Mi Primer Pilotaje and Programa de Acceso a Pilotos that connect startups and technology developers with mining companies.

Product overview

Centro Nacional de Pilotaje (CNP) is a non-profit technology corporation providing a comprehensive suite of mining technology piloting and validation services. The core offering consists of industrial-scale technology testing at CNP facilities and partner sites, complemented by specialized programs like 'Mi Primer Pilotaje' for early-stage startups and the 'Programa de Acceso a Pilotos' for simplified developer access. Supporting tools include the Sustainability Calculator for measuring carbon, water, and energy footprints, plus specialized platforms for Direct Lithium Extraction and Rare Earth Element recovery. Additional services encompass technological surveillance, training workshops, and ecosystem connection programs like Círculo del Pilotaje.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Pilotajes CNP
• Pilotaje Socios
• Programa Mi Primer Pilotaje

Quantifiable outcome

• 43% revenue increase in 2022 compared to previous year, reaching CLP 690 million
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Norcat (Canadá)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 January 2019International partnership with the Canadian mining innovation center Norcat to share best practices in industrial piloting, transfer technology and best practices, collaborate on mining technology development, and provide mutual support for internationalization of technology developers from both regions.
• Universidad de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner university contributing mining expertise, particularly through the Advanced Mining Technology Center (AMTC). Collaborates on R&D projects including lithium and rare earth extraction technologies.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner university contributing engineering and mining expertise. Collaborates on R&D projects for lithium technologies and hosts training events through the Center for Innovation UC.
• Universidad Técnica Federico Santa MaríacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner university contributing technical and engineering expertise. Hosts working groups and represents USM in CNP consortium activities.
• Universidad de AntofagastacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding partner university located in the northern mining region, providing local presence and hosting the North Node office at Campus Coloso.
• MinnovexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding association of innovative mining service and product companies. Represents the supplier ecosystem and connects technology developers with CNP validation services.
• BHPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal agreement established during EXPOMIN for piloting collaboration, with special emphasis on piloting for small and medium mining as a tool for technology scaling to large mining operations.
• Anglo AmericancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance since 2021 for technology piloting and validation. CNP works with Anglo American on hydrogen technologies and other mining innovations.
• CodelcocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance since 2021 for technology piloting and validation. Codelco participates in the 'Mi Primer Pilotaje' program committee and collaborates on innovation projects.
• ENAMIcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for piloting new technologies in state-owned mining operations. ENAMI opened facilities for pilot testing and technology development, including validation of 8 direct lithium extraction technologies for the Salares Alto Andinos project.
• CMP (Compañía Minera del Pacífico)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for piloting and innovation in iron ore mining. CMP opened Mina El Romeral and Puerto Guayacán operations for technology developer visits and pilot testing in the iron mining industry.
• ExpandemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement for validation of mining technologies, providing access to Expande's network of technology providers who need testing facilities, while CNP provides industrial-scale testing capabilities.
• SERNAGEOMINmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical collaboration agreement for contributing to the implementation of new technologies in mining, such as hydrogen use and autonomous equipment, as part of the development of Chile's mining innovation ecosystem.
• CCHEN (Comisión Chilena de Energía Nuclear)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in the CORFO-funded Direct Lithium Extraction platform project, providing regulatory perspective on nuclear-related aspects of lithium extraction technologies.
• Minera San PedromajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOpened mining facilities for technology piloting and co-development of green hydrogen pilot plant (H2V), generating all the hydrogen it consumes through an 'auto-production' model.
• Minera Valle CentralminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-executer providing testing facilities for technology piloting at their mining operations.
• EcometalesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-executer providing access to testing facilities in the hydrometallurgy area for pilot testing of new technologies.
• Startuplab.01minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation ecosystem partner hosting 'Círculo del Pilotaje' program activities, connecting technology developers with mining industry opportunities.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Norcat: Canadian non-profit mining technology innovation center that operates the same neutral third-party piloting/validation model as CNP. CNP itself has a formal MOU with Norcat to share best practices, making this the closest direct peer globally.
• Mintek: South African government-funded mineral and metallurgical innovation center that runs pilot plants and testing services for mining companies. Closely comparable to CNP as a public-mandate minerals technology testing organization.
• METS Ignited: Australian industry-led growth centre for mining equipment, technology and services (METS), backed by government and focused on accelerating innovation adoption in mining. Comparable mission to CNP of bridging mining companies and technology developers.
• Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI): Canadian mining innovation hub solving step-change challenges for the industry through collaborative R&D. Closely comparable to CNP in being a non-profit mining research/testing intermediary backed by government and industry.
• Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA): Canadian non-profit network that accelerates commercialization of mining innovations by connecting developers with mining operators. Operates a similar 'piloting as a service' value proposition to CNP's Mi Primer Pilotaje program.
• CRC Mining (Australian Centre for Mining Automation): Australian mining innovation center that historically coordinated collaborative R&D and pilot projects for the Australian mining sector. Operates an analogous model of industry-government-academic consortium piloting.

Broad incumbents

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency with a large mining R&D division that operates pilot facilities and validates mining technologies. A broader, larger incumbent with overlapping capabilities but a much wider portfolio beyond mining.
• Hatch: Global engineering and project delivery firm with extensive mining technology, R&D, and pilot testing capabilities. Provides broader consulting engineering services but includes dedicated mining innovation testing offerings that overlap with CNP's validation scope.
• SGS Mining Services: Global commercial laboratory and testing services provider serving the mining industry with mineral processing, geochemical, and metallurgical testing. Overlaps with CNP piloting/validation but at a commercial, global scale across many service lines.

Others

• Expande: Chilean open innovation program for mining that collaborates with CNP. Functions as a complementary layer in the Chilean mining innovation ecosystem, sourcing and de-risking startups before they reach CNP's validation stage.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/PilotajeCNP
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centro-nacional-pilotaje-cnp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Centro Nacional de Pilotaje