Data Observatory

What Data Observatory does

Data Observatory is a Chilean non-profit technology center (centro tecnológico sin fines de lucro) founded in 2020 and headquartered in Santiago, Chile. It acquires, processes, curates, and makes available large-volume, high-quality datasets for scientific research, public policy, and private-sector decision-making, applying FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles with metadata standards, DOI-based citation, licensing, and programmatic access. The organization operates a core data catalog of 1,000+ datasets hosted on AWS cloud infrastructure, alongside a portfolio of specialized platforms: Anuario estadístico de pesca y acuicultura (fisheries and aquaculture with SERNAPESCA), Plataforma Rasgos-CL (plant functional trait biodiversity), Plataforma LOAD de Logística Urbana (urban logistics for Santiago), IDEOS (ocean health across 105 coastal communes), and the Parcelas-CL vegetation database.

The organization is co-financed by the Chilean State through ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo), with additional institutional support from the Ministerio de Economía and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, complemented by competitive research grants (e.g., FONDEF IDeA I+D) and project-based collaboration agreements. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, reaching users through 30+ strategic alliances with government agencies, universities, and private-sector partners, plus hackathons (Ocean Hackathon, Virtual Hackathon), SURDATA Alliance workshops, scientific publications, and earned media. The entity articulates academia, public sector, and private sector as a public-private-academic collaboration model, positioning itself as a neutral bridge between data and evidence-based decision-making in Chile.

Name

Data Observatory

Legal name

Data Observatory

Website

https://dataobservatory.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Data Observatory is a Chilean non-profit technology center that acquires, processes, and publishes open research datasets and analytical platforms (catalog of 1,000+ datasets, IDEOS, Rasgos-CL, LOAD, Parcelas-CL) for universities, government agencies, and private-sector partners, funded by ANID and the Chilean state under FAIR data principles.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Open Data Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (51821), Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services (51929)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Data Sharing, Data Exchange & Data Marketplace Platforms (HDAEABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Metadata, Catalog & Semantic Layer for Data Platforms (HDAEABAJ), Data Platforms & Modern Data Stack Services (Lakehouse, DW, MDM) (BPAEAHAC), Dataset Discovery, Marketplaces & Licensing (HDAAALAE)

Keywords

• Open data platform
• FAIR data management
• Research data infrastructure
• Data catalog services
• Data analytics platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: Data Observatory is a non-profit technological center co-financed by the Chilean State through ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo). This represents the primary funding source for operations and projects.
2. Collaborative Project Revenue: Revenue generated through collaboration agreements with public institutions, private companies, and academic organizations for data-related projects and services.
3. Research Grants: Funding from competitive research grants such as FONDEF IDeA I+D projects (e.g., IDEOS project) and other innovation initiatives.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Data Observatory acquires, processes, and makes available large volumes of high-quality datasets following FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) principles for science, research, and evidence-based decision-making. The core offering is a centralized data catalog with over 1,000 open datasets, complemented by specialized domain platforms for fisheries, biodiversity, urban logistics, and ocean health assessment, delivered through collaboration agreements and partnership-based projects.

Product overview

Data Observatory operates as a data management and open data platform with multiple specialized products. The core offering is the Catálogo Data Observatory (catalog), which provides access to over 1000 datasets following FAIR principles. This platform serves as the central hub, while specialized domain-specific products address particular sectors: Anuario estadístico de pesca y acuicultura (fisheries and aquaculture data), Plataforma Rasgos-CL (plant biodiversity functional traits), Plataforma LOAD de Logística Urbana (urban logistics), and IDEOS (coastal ocean health). Together, these products form an integrated ecosystem that acquires, processes, and makes available large-volume, high-quality datasets for evidence-based decision-making.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDEOS: Interactive platform that evaluates the health of the Chilean ocean in 105 coastal communes, developed in collaboration with Universidad Católica del Norte (UCN) and Instituto Milenio SECOS.
• Rasgos-CL
• LOAD (Logística Urbana)

Products and services

• Catálogo Data Observatory Centralized open-access catalog offering over 1,000 datasets and open resources following FAIR principles, enabling discovery, access, and programmatic use of data across astronomy, earth observation, natural resources, and society for researchers, institutions, and the public.
• Anuario estadístico de pesca y acuicultura Web platform enabling visualization, extraction, and export of historical SERNAPESCA data on aquaculture and fishing landings and production in Chile, for fisheries researchers, government institutions, and the public.
• Plataforma Rasgos-CL Repository synthesizing functional trait information of plant biodiversity in Chile, providing spatialized information through functional diversity maps and species comparison capabilities for ecologists, biodiversity researchers, and conservation institutions.
• Plataforma LOAD de Logística Urbana Web platform for visualization and export of urban freight data in Santiago's Metropolitan Region through interactive maps and charts, supporting public policy based on data for logistics planners, public institutions, and Conecta Logística.
• IDEOS Interactive platform evaluating ocean health in all 105 coastal communes of Chile, displaying the Ocean Health Index (IdSO) and enabling periodic assessments for marine researchers, environmental agencies, and coastal communities.
• Parcelas-CL Database Vegetation database initiative compiling 1,485 georeferenced vegetation plots in central-southern Chile with 676 plant species registered, led by Data Observatory researchers and available via Zenodo for biodiversity researchers, ecologists, and conservation planners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Platform enables ocean health evaluation across 105 coastal communes of Chile
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

34 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Centro Nacional de Inteligencia ArtificialcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration to combine institutional strengths in data science and AI, focusing on research projects, talent development, cloud infrastructure optimization, and knowledge transfer.
• AcquoracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Framework collaboration agreement focusing on satellite data analysis, AI models for water resource management in mining and environmental sectors, FAIR data standards implementation, and knowledge transfer activities.
• Universidad de Los AndescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration agreement and DataCite partnership for institutional cooperation in research, data processing, joint programs, training, and DOI provision.
• Universidad MayormoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration agreement for research, data processing, joint programs development, training, and information exchange.
• Comisión Chilena del CobremoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Framework agreement for promoting and disseminating studies and databases in the mining sector, along with other mutual interest activities.
• Fundación País DigitalmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Inter-institutional cooperation agreement for research, data processing, joint programs, training, and information exchange.
• Centro Sismológico NacionalmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration for GNSS station measurement data exchange and establishing lasting mutual cooperation between parties.
• Instituto de Ecología y BiodiversidadmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Agreement to promote scientific research, education, conservation, and dissemination of biodiversity and supporting data in Chile.
• Fundación Leitat ChileminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration to facilitate R&D project development, exploring opportunities, joint research, and scientific-technological dissemination.
• Geología. Innovación y Desarrollo SpAmoderateTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Collaboration to provide Hydrolytics analytics platform, migrating to cloud infrastructure and optimizing performance with data interoperability.
• DataCitecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Agreement for provision of persistent identifiers (DOIs) enabling proper data citation and attribution.
• Biblioteca Congreso NacionalmoderateTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025DataCite agreement for DOI provision services.
• Theodora AImoderateTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Collaboration agreement for institutional cooperation in research, data processing, joint programs development, training, and information exchange.
• OCEANAmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Institutional cooperation for research, data processing, joint programs, training, and information exchange.
• Universidad Adolfo IbáñezcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Academic partnership involving research collaboration, data analysis, and talent development in data science and environmental research.
• Inria ChilemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Specific agreement for Ocean Hackathon event collaboration, fostering innovation in ocean-related data solutions.
• Fundación Chilena de Eficiencia Logística (Conecta Logística)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration for urban logistics optimization and visualization, including platform development, analytical tools, training, and integration with other data sources.
• Universidad Católica de la Santísima ConcepciónmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration for joint training activities, research promotion, experience exchange, and personnel/staff exchange.
• Universidad Andrés BellomoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Strategic cooperation agreement for data analysis and processing, particularly in genetics and data analysis field.
• Fuerza Aérea de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration project for satellite image analysis, data availability, tool creation, and professional development in aerospace and data science.
• Servicio Aerofotogramétrico de la FACHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Specific agreement for Datatón 2024 execution, Data Cube availability, aerophotogrammetric imagery, and Data Cube training.
• Servicio Nacional del ConsumidormoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration for enhancing consumer protection through data curation, processing, and analysis of consumer claims.
• Instituto Nacional de EstadísticascoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Institutional collaboration for data science projects, research, satellite observation, data/image processing, and visualization platform development.
• Superintendencia de Electricidad y CombustiblesmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Framework agreement for mutual cooperation in data analysis and processing to support supervisory role.
• Superintendencia del Medio AmbientemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SAMSARA project collaboration for environmental monitoring and data analysis.
• Lucy Family Institute (Notre Dame)moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MOU for scientific application projects in health and related areas, along with DO dissemination events participation.
• Chile Massachusetts Alliance Inc.moderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaboration to promote innovation in Chile and collaboration with the Massachusetts university and research ecosystem.
• Fundación DRCLAS - Harvard UniversitymoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Mental Health Coalition collaboration for data analysis and platform development for mental health data visualization.
• Universidad Austral de ChilemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023STARM project collaboration for oceanographic data platform development.
• Centro de Investigación Dinámica de Ecosistemas Marinos de Altas LatitudesmoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023STARM project collaboration for marine ecosystem research.
• Instituto de Fomento Pesquero (IFOP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on fisheries data project, contributing to the development and availability of fishing resources data lake for scientific community and government institutions.
• Universidad de Notre DamemoderateStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Memorandum of Understanding for academic collaboration, research, student and professional exchange, and joint academic activities.
• Instituto Milenio en Socio-Ecología CosteracoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Framework collaboration for scientific research, development, and knowledge exchange between research personnel.
• AWS (Amazon Web Services)coreTechnology or IntegrationCloud infrastructure provider powering Data Observatory platforms and data processing capabilities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Open Data Institute (ODI): ODI is a non-profit that supports organizations to publish and use open data, with a focus on training, advocacy, and ecosystem building — comparable to Data Observatory's role as a non-profit FAIR data advocate and trainer.
• Dryad: Dryad is a curated open-access data publishing platform for research datasets, with strong domain focus on life sciences — directly comparable to Data Observatory's domain-specialized scientific platforms like Rasgos-CL.
• Zenodo (CERN): Zenodo is a general-purpose open research data repository hosted at CERN, providing DOIs and licensing for datasets — directly comparable to Data Observatory's Catalog and its DataCite partnership for DOI provision.
• data.world: data.world operates a dataset discovery and collaboration platform, supporting FAIR-like metadata, governance, and dataset sharing across enterprises and communities — a direct functional counterpart to Data Observatory's catalog and open-data platform.
• Figshare: Figshare is a research data repository and discovery platform for academic and scientific outputs, including datasets with DOIs and licensing — a direct commercial counterpart serving the same researcher / institution audience.
• CKAN (Open Knowledge Foundation): CKAN is the leading open-source data management system used by governments and research institutions worldwide to publish open data catalogs — directly comparable to Data Observatory's role as a national/regional open data infrastructure provider.
• Dataverse Project: Dataverse is an open-source research data repository software used by Harvard and many universities worldwide to host, share, and cite research datasets — closely analogous to Data Observatory's domain-specialized repositories (Rasgos-CL, Parcelas-CL, Anuario).

Broad incumbents

• Kaggle: Kaggle is a large public dataset discovery and data-science community platform owned by Google — overlapping with DO's catalog/discovery role but with much broader global scale and commercial backing.
• World Bank Open Data: World Bank Open Data is a large-scale public-sector open data initiative providing global development datasets — comparable to Data Observatory's positioning as a multi-institutional open data hub, but at the multilateral-institution scale.
• AWS Open Data: AWS Open Data is a cloud-backed registry hosting large open datasets (satellite imagery, genomics, etc.) — comparable in catalog/dataset discovery function, but operated as part of a global cloud provider's broader portfolio rather than a regional non-profit.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• GitHubgithub.com/Data-Observatory
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@DataObservatory
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/data-observatory-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/dataobservatory
• Xx.com/DataObsCL

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Data Observatory