conicyt

What conicyt does

CONICYT (Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica) was a Chilean government agency founded in 1967 and headquartered in Santiago at Moneda 1375. It operated as Chile's primary state instrument for funding scientific research, postgraduate education, and science outreach, operating under the Government of Chile and reporting through the Ministry of Education. The agency did not develop technology products itself; instead, it administered a portfolio of more than 15 named competitive funding programs covering fundamental research (Fondecyt), applied R&D and technology transfer (Fondef, IDeA, VIU), priority research centers (Fondap), equipment (Fondequip), health research (Fonis), associative research (PIA), human capital attraction and insertion (PAI), international cooperation (PCI, Newton-Picarte), regional development (Regional), astronomy, scholarships (Becas CONICYT), science communication (Explora), gender equity in science (Mujeres en Ciencia), and scientific information infrastructure (SciELO-CHILE).

The agency's revenue model was non-commercial: it operated on Chilean national budget allocations and distributed funds through competitive grant cycles rather than selling products or services. It reached its customer base — Chilean universities, research centers, postgraduate students, and public sector employees — through online application systems (SPL, FAST, evalcyt), the conicyt.cl website, RSS/email channels, and bilateral international cooperation agreements with partners including the U.S. NSF, Germany's DAAD, the Fulbright Commission, Brazil's CNPq, Columbia University, and Stony Brook University. As of January 1, 2020, CONICYT was legally succeeded by ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo) as part of Chile's institutional modernization; the entity no longer operates under the CONICYT name, and conicyt.cl redirects users to anid.cl. Historical scale signals include 847 awarded projects, 4 open competitions, and 9 evaluations underway at the time of transition.

Name

conicyt

Legal name

Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica

Website

https://conicyt.cl

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Closed

Short description

CONICYT was Chile's national government agency (founded 1967) that competitively funded scientific research, postgraduate scholarships, and science outreach through 15+ specialized programs. It served Chilean universities, research centers, and graduate students until being succeeded by ANID on January 1, 2020.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Research Funding

NAICS

Administration of Economic Programs (9261)

akta.pro primary industry

Government Student Financial Aid Agencies (EDADAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Financial Aid Administration & Packaging (EDALAJAA), Funding, Finance & Grants Reporting (Allocations, Claims, Reconciliation) (EDADAIAG), Development Cooperation & Foreign Aid Administration (BPAIAIAG), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

• Scientific research funding
• Postgraduate scholarships
• Technology development grants
• Science education programs
• International research cooperation

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government Budget Allocation: CONICYT operates as a Chilean government agency funded through national budget allocations to distribute grants, scholarships, and research funding to scientists, researchers, and students across Chile.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CONICYT (Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica) was Chile's national government agency that administered competitive funding programs for scientific research, postgraduate scholarships, and technological development. The agency distributed government budget allocations across multiple dedicated funds covering fundamental research, applied technology, research centers, scientific equipment, health research, regional development, astronomy, international cooperation, and science outreach. Effective January 1, 2020, CONICYT was legally succeeded by ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo).

Product overview

CONICYT (Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica) is Chile's national government agency responsible for funding and promoting scientific research and technological development. The organization operates as a portfolio of distinct, named programs rather than a unified software product—these include scholarship programs (Becas CONICYT), competitive research funds (Fondecyt, Fondef, Fondap, Fondequip, Fonis), human capital programs (PAI), international cooperation (PCI, Fondo Newton-Picarte), regional development (Regional), associative research (PIA), astronomy (Astronomía), science communication (Explora), and gender equity in science (Mujeres en Ciencia). As of January 1, 2020, CONICYT was succeeded by ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Becas CONICYT (Programa Formación de Capital Humano Avanzado) Scholarship program for graduate studies (master's and doctoral) in Chile and abroad, including bilateral agreements with countries like Germany (DAAD) and programs like Fulbright-CONICYT. Targeted at Chilean and foreign students pursuing postgraduate degrees in scientific and technological fields.
• Fondecyt (Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico) National fund supporting fundamental and applied scientific research projects across all disciplines through competitive grant competitions. For universities, research centers, and scientific institutions conducting research in Chile.
• Fondef (Fondo de Fomento al Desarrollo Científico y Tecnológico) Fund promoting the link between research institutions and enterprises, supporting technological development, innovation, and R&D projects with commercial potential through programs like IDeA and VIU. For research institutions and enterprises collaborating on applied research.
• PIA (Programa de Investigación Asociativa) Program supporting associative research initiatives, including Anillos de Investigación (Research Rings) that bring together multidisciplinary teams to address strategic scientific areas.
• Regional (Programa Regional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica) Regional program supporting scientific research and development outside Santiago, promoting decentralization of Chile's scientific ecosystem.
• Fondap (Fondo de Financiamiento de Centros de Investigación en Áreas Prioritarias) Fund for financing research centers in priority areas, supporting the creation and operation of Centers of Excellence in strategic scientific fields.
• Fondequip (Fondo de Equipamiento Científico y Tecnológico) Fund for acquiring scientific and technological equipment, supporting research infrastructure development at institutions throughout Chile.
• PAI (Programa de Atracción e Inserción de Capital Humano Avanzado) Program for attracting and inserting advanced human capital, supporting the return and integration of Chilean researchers trained abroad into academic and industrial positions.
• PCI (Programa de Cooperación Internacional) International cooperation program supporting bilateral and multilateral research agreements, including AmSud programs for Latin American scientific collaboration.
• Fonis (Fondo Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo en Salud) National fund for health research and development, supporting projects addressing national health priorities and medical research.
• Explora (Programa Nacional de Divulgación y Valoración de la Ciencia y la Tecnología) National program for science and technology dissemination and appreciation, promoting public understanding of science through activities like 1000 Científicos 1000 Aulas, science weeks, and educational initiatives.
• Astronomía (Fondos de Desarrollo de la Astronomía Nacional) National astronomy development funds supporting astronomical research in Chile, including telescope time allocation for facilities like APEX, and fostering collaboration in observational astronomy.
• Fondo Newton-Picarte Newton-Picarte Fund supporting scientific collaboration between Chile and the United Kingdom, part of international scientific exchange programs.
• Mujeres en Ciencia (Women in Science Initiative) Initiative promoting gender equity in science and technology, supporting women's participation in research careers and scientific leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 323 master's scholarships awarded in 2012 from over 2000 applications (18% acceptance rate)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo)coreOthers · 15 January 2020CONICYT was transformed into ANID (National Agency for Research and Development) effective January 1, 2020. ANID became the legal successor of CONICYT, continuing all research funding and scholarship programs under the new agency name.
• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2020Bilateral agreement for doctoral scholarships between CONICYT and DAAD, enabling Chilean students to pursue doctoral studies in Germany under the Becas Chile program.
• Fulbright CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2020Joint scholarship program 'Becas de Doctorado Igualdad de Oportunidades FULBRIGHT-CONICYT' providing doctoral scholarship opportunities with emphasis on equal opportunities.
• CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) - BrazilmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2012International exchange program for research teams from Chile and Brazil. Supports exchange of researchers to strengthen scientific collaboration in areas including biotechnology, education, marine science, astrophysics, physics, mathematics, ICT, energy, agriculture, mining, and nanotechnology.
• NSF (National Science Foundation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2012CONICYT signed a memorandum of understanding with NSF focusing on three priority areas: human capital development, joint research activities support, and scientific collaboration development between Chile and the United States.
• Columbia UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2012Agreement signed between CONICYT President José Miguel Aguilera and Columbia President Lee Bollinger to increase the number of doctoral students studying abroad in Chile-United States collaboration.
• CEPPE (Centro de Estudios de Políticas y Prácticas en Educación)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 October 2008CONICYT-funded education research center involving Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Universidad Alberto Hurtado, Universidad de la Frontera, and Fundación Chile. Receives 450 million pesos annually for research in teaching, learning, leadership, ICT, and teacher training.
• Stony Brook University (LACS)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2005Rockefeller Humanities Residence Program hosting Latin American scholars for research on persistent inequalities in Latin America, with approximately 36,000 USD fellowships for 8-10 month durations.
• Centro de Modelamiento Matemático (CMM) - Universidad de ChilecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the basal research centers supported by CONICYT. CMM is Chile's leading institution in artificial intelligence and data science research with applications in astronomy, mining, energy, and retail sectors.
• SERNAM (Servicio Nacional de la Mujer)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alliance with the National Women's Service for gender equality initiatives in science, including the 'Las ciencias también son cosas de niñas' campaign featuring María Teresa Ruiz.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CONAHCYT (formerly CONACYT, Mexico): Mexico's national science and technology funding council, the closest direct peer: same Latin American government mandate, scholarship and research-grant portfolio, and bilateral cooperation role across the region.
• CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil): Brazil's federal research funding agency and a documented CONICYT partner. Operates the same model of competitive grants, scholarships, and bilateral exchange programs at greater scale across Latin America.
• CONICET (Argentina): Argentina's national scientific and technical research council, directly comparable as a Southern Cone government research funding and researcher-career body operating scholarships, institutes, and grants.
• Minciencias (Colombia): Colombia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation; mirrors CONICYT's mandate to fund research, postgraduate training, and innovation at national scale with a similar programmatic architecture.
• ANII (Agencia Nacional de Investigación e Innovación, Uruguay): Uruguay's national research and innovation agency, a smaller-scale direct peer running scholarships, research grants, and innovation funding programs on the same model as CONICYT.

Broad incumbents

• NSF (National Science Foundation, USA): The U.S. federal research-funding incumbent and a documented CONICYT MOU partner. Operates the same fundamental-research grant model at vastly greater scale and budget, serving as the benchmark for global science funding agencies.
• ERC (European Research Council): The EU's premier frontier-research grant body; comparable to Fondecyt in mission but operating at supranational scale with a globally competitive grants architecture for senior investigators.
• NIH (National Institutes of Health, USA): Comparable as a large government health-research funder; parallel to CONICYT's Fonis program that funds national health-priority research projects across Chilean institutions.

Others

• DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service): A documented CONICYT bilateral partner running the German side of Becas Chile doctoral scholarships. Functions as a comparable international scholarship-and-exchange agency rather than a domestic research funder.
• Wellcome Trust: One of the world's largest charitable research funders, comparable in mission to CONICYT's research-grant and human-capital programs but operating as a private foundation rather than a government agency.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/AnidInforma
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fondecyt

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about conicyt