Who we are

Our

History

Dr. Carlos Riquelme
Director of the Center for Bioinnovation (CBIA)
carlos.riquelme@uantof.cl

Beginnings

The Bioinnovation Center was decreed in 2010 and was born from the incipient microbial ecology laboratory (LEM) directed by Dr. Carlos Riquelme, which based on the development of research in applied science, derived in the creation of the CBIA, whose initial purpose was based on research in microbiology oriented to application and technology transfer, where through the support of various projects that have been executed over time within the area of applied science of the ANID (formerly CONICYT and FONDEF), achieves the materialization of several attached units, in which the following stand out: the Applied Microbiology Unit (UMA), strongly dedicated to the development and entrepreneurship in microalgae, from the search for new strains to the application at a pilot level of microalgal cultures to obtain microalgal biomass, with a pilot plant of 14 m3; Marine Mesocosm Laboratory, which has facilities for scaling up biotechnological developments and 50 m3 pools, unique in its kind in the country, and a Hatchery for productive diversification that has enabled advances and applications in aquaculture microbiology.

Present day

Currently, the CBIA has approximately 30 professionals, including postdocs, PhDs, PhD candidates, master's degree holders, professionals, technicians, and administrators. It is a multidisciplinary group, encompassing specialties ranging from Marine Biology, Biochemistry, and Photobiology to aquaculture engineering, biotechnology, bioprocesses, and agronomy. We also have agreements and are developing projects with both national and international universities, including: Spanish universities such as the University of Almería and Málaga; Japanese universities such as Kindai and Kyoto; and US universities such as Northeastern; and institutions such as the Fisheries Development Institute (IFOP). The CBIA is also working to strengthen postgraduate teaching with the short-term implementation of a Master's degree in Microbial Bioinnovation, planned for 2023.

Mission

Mission

The Bioinnovation Center's mission is to establish itself as a leading R&D&I center, leading innovative research based on the use of microorganisms for biotechnological applications in regional and national industry, while also promoting entrepreneurship through the development of bioinnovation products.

Vision

Through the development, implementation, and transfer of innovative biotechnology methodologies based on the use of microorganisms as potential sources of bioproducts, this will enable the development of economic activities based on renewable natural resources, which will allow for the diversification of the regional productive matrix, which until now has been based exclusively on mining.

Our team

At our research center, every member is essential to generating knowledge and carrying out our work. Here we introduce the people in charge of each unit and laboratory associated with the Bioinnovation Center.