E.L.I.C. Foundation Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children

What E.L.I.C. Foundation Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children does

The E.L.I.C. Foundation, Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children (Escuelas Libres de Investigación Científica para Niños), is a non-profit educational foundation founded in 1977 in Caracas, Venezuela by Dr. David Juan Ferriz Olivares and Acct. María Nilda Cerf Arbulú, operating on the psycho-pedagogical philosophy of Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière. The foundation's core offering is a proprietary educational methodology that develops scientific research attitudes, critical thinking, and epistemological reasoning in children ages 3-12 through hands-on activities including terrariums, herbariums, aquariums, science museums, scientific libraries, and a Children's Press (Noticiero Infantil) newspaper program in which children write, present, and discuss articles. Programs are codified under six psycho-pedagogical principles — most notably the Shaping-and-Learning principle — and span workshops in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, electronics, engineering, and mathematics.

The foundation operates two directly licensed educational institutions: the Institución Educativa El Niño Investigador K'usk Erqe in Cusco, Peru (initial level since 2003, primary level since 2008, ~7 teaching staff plus 3 administrative/directive staff), and the Colegio Preescolar Héroes de la Paz N°2 in Bucaramanga, Colombia (opened 2014). It maintains a delegate network across 18 countries in the Americas and Europe, organizes biannual itinerant World Congresses for Childhood Talent, and operates workshops such as 'Leer para Saber' (Read to Know) and ecological storytelling through local delegations. Its technology footprint is centered on a Joomla-based multilingual website (Spanish, English, French, Italian) and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter) under @CongresoTalento; no software products, AI/ML capabilities, mobile apps, or third-party integrations are evidenced.

Revenue is generated through three streams: monthly tuition fees at the two licensed schools (collected via Caja Arequipa branches and authorized agents in Peru); registration fees from biennial World Congresses (the 7th Congress in Bucaramanga 2013 attracted 100 presenters); and fees from local workshops and summer programs. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for the Colombian school or international congress registrations. The foundation maintains affinity and cooperation with UNESCO's educational activities and aligns its programs with UNESCO's 'Learning to Be' pillar. No parent company, external equity investors, or public listing exists; ownership and control remain founder-driven following Dr. David Juan Ferriz Olivares's death in 1992, with continuity led by María Nilda Cerf Arbulú.

Name

E.L.I.C. Foundation Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children

Legal name

E.L.I.C. Foundation, Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children

Website

https://elicnet.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The E.L.I.C. Foundation is a non-profit founded in 1977 in Caracas, Venezuela, operating licensed schools in Peru and Colombia and a delegate network across 18 countries, delivering proprietary science-research and epistemological education programs to children ages 3-12.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Children's Primary and Preschool Education Services

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Research, Capstone & Extended Essay Mentoring (IB EE, independent research) (EDANAKAH)

Keywords

• Children's scientific education
• Talent development programs
• Preschool and primary education
• Educational workshops
• Non-formal science learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Caracas

HQ country

Venezuela

HQ region

Latin America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. School Tuition Fees: The foundation operates licensed educational institutions (K'usk Erqe in Cusco, Peru, and Héroes de la Paz in Bucaramanga, Colombia) that charge monthly tuition fees according to published fee schedules. Parents and guardians pay monthly fees, with payment collection facilitated through bank agencies and authorized payment agents across Peru.
2. World Congress Participation Fees: The foundation organizes biannual World Congresses for Childhood Talent, which generate revenue through participant registrations. The 7th edition in 2013 at Universidad Industrial de Santander in Bucaramanga, Colombia attracted 100 presenters from around the world.
3. Workshop and Program Fees: Local delegations charge fees for workshops such as 'Leer para Saber' (Read to Know), literary text workshops, ecological storytelling, 'Yogarte' summer courses, astronomy workshops, and other extracurricular programs offered to children and families.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The E.L.I.C. Foundation operates as a non-profit educational institution providing research-based, science-oriented education for children ages 3–12. Its core offering is a proprietary psycho-pedagogical methodology (the Shaping-and-Learning principle) that combines observation, reflection, critical analysis, and love for truth, delivered through directly operated licensed schools in Peru and Colombia, extracurricular workshops, and biannual international World Congresses for Childhood Talent. It also licenses its methodology to affiliated institutions and delegates across 18 countries in the Americas and Europe.

Product overview

The E.L.I.C. Foundation operates a network of Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children across 18 countries in America and Europe. The foundation offers a unified educational program centered on developing children's research talents through hands-on scientific activities, including workshops in physics, electronics, astronomy, and biology. Key offerings include the K'USKIQ ERQE center in Cusco, the Héroes de la Paz preschool in Colombia, the biannual World Congress for Childhood Talent, the Children's Press newspaper program, and various science museums and libraries. All programs follow the foundation's psycho-pedagogical methodology emphasizing observation, reflection, critical analysis in research, and love for truth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• K'USKIQ ERQE Education Center (Cusco, Peru)
• Colegio Preescolar El Niño Investigador - Héroes de la Paz N°02 (Bucaramanga, Colombia)
• World Congress for Childhood Talent (Congreso Mundial para el Talento de la Niñez)
• Children's Press (Noticiero Infantil)
• Science Museums and Scientific Libraries
• Science and Technology Workshops

Quantifiable outcome

• Children develop research skills, critical thinking, and scientific attitudes through hands-on activities in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, and engineering.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• UNESCOflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe ELIC Foundation has a strong affinity and cooperation with UNESCO's educational activities, programs, and materials. The foundation aligns its World Congresses for Childhood Talent with UNESCO's 'Learning to Be' — one of the four pillars of education proposed by UNESCO's International Commission on Education for the 21st Century. The foundation also operates within the Associated Schools of UNESCO network, and its activities encompass UNESCO's priority domains. Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière established the International Federation of Scientific Societies (FISS) in alignment with international scientific coordination efforts. The foundation's co-founder María Nilda Cerf Arbulú organized a round table on 'Epistemology of Man and Andean Culture' in 1978, sponsored by UNESCO.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Davidson Institute for Talent Development: Non-profit organization dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted youth through programs, schools, scholarships, and research. Directly comparable as a non-profit gifted-education organization serving a similar demographic with similar enrichment mission.
• Montessori Foundation: Non-profit organization supporting Montessori schools and teacher training worldwide. Comparable as a non-profit promoting an alternative child-centered educational philosophy, with similar school-licensing and international delegate/community model.
• Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY): A long-standing, university-affiliated gifted-education program offering enrichment, summer programs, and online courses for academically talented K-12 children. Highly comparable to ELIC's talent-development mission and age range (3-12), though operating at much larger scale and with different curriculum emphasis.
• Mensa Foundation: Non-profit foundation focused on gifted identification and education, including the Mensa Honor Society and programs for talented children. Comparable as an international non-profit dedicated to nurturing intellectual talent, though operating through membership rather than direct schooling.
• Destination Imagination: Non-profit organization running creative problem-solving competitions and curriculum for K-12 students worldwide. Comparable as a non-profit, volunteer-driven, internationally-distributed children's enrichment program focused on creativity and applied research skills.

Broad incumbents

• LEGO Education: Global STEAM-learning division of the LEGO Group providing hands-on science, engineering, and creativity products and curricula for K-12 classrooms. Comparable as a hands-on, science/engineering-focused educational offering for children, but a commercial product business rather than a foundation.
• FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology): Non-profit running global K-12 robotics and STEM programs (FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Robotics Competition). Comparable as a non-profit promoting hands-on science and engineering engagement for children, with international reach and partner networks.
• Khan Academy: Large non-profit online education platform offering free instruction across STEM and humanities to global learners. Comparable as a non-profit educational mission with free learning content, though entirely digitally delivered rather than school-based.
• Kumon: Global after-school math and reading enrichment franchise serving millions of children. Comparable as a scalable children's enrichment methodology with international reach, but focused on drill-based academics rather than scientific research skills.
• International Baccalaureate Organization (IB): Global non-profit offering rigorous academic programs (PYP, MYP, DP) for schools worldwide. Highly comparable as a non-profit international education framework with UNESCO ties, but operating at massive scale and licensing curricula to thousands of schools rather than directly running schools.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CongresoTalento
• Facebookfacebook.com/CongresoTalento

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about E.L.I.C. Foundation Free Schools of Scientific Research for Children