**3. Technology transfer hubs in Chile**

#### **3.1 Innovation ecosystem**

In 2011, Corfo launched the first Program for the Creation and Strengthening of TLOs. This program was open to universities and technology centers. Eighteen projects were funded, with a budget of USD 7.14 million. Despite this significant investment, it was not enough to maintain the structure of the offices with a sustainable financial model.

In 2015, Corfo launched a second TLO program, which tried to consolidate and to position the offices, hoping to improve transfer indicators. Through this program, 15 TLOs were financed. In addition, in order to consolidate the existing TLOs and strengthen the new ones, a new stage in the specialization of technology transfer in Chile began with the "on campus-off campus" model.

#### **3.2 "On campus - Off campus" model**

The "on campus-off campus" model takes into consideration the need to strengthen commercialization and transfer capabilities within universities, considering that the specialization of competencies is the way to achieve successful commercialization with greater probability.

The "on campus" component corresponds to the role played by the TLOs in the identification, follow-up and compilation of research and development results within universities and research centers. The aim is to promote research focused on solving specific problems or needs of the productive sector and society. Similarly, the role of technological asset management is considered, according to the guidelines or capabilities of each institution.

The "off-campus" component is related to entities that have the capabilities and human capital highly specialized in scaling and transferring research and development results generated in universities and research centers. This work itself is oriented to the generation of global business in different industries, with access to support networks in internationalization of scientific and technological enterprises, which involves a decrease in the gap in the capabilities required by the TLOs, performing this activity through two ways: using their own work, or coordinating and intermediating external services (**Figure 2**).

Along with the implementation of the model, the Technology Transfer Hubs were born with the objective of strengthening the transfer capabilities of universities and associated research centers, through the "on campus and off campus" model, focusing on improving the processes of intellectual property, technological development and commercialization, in a joint work with the TLOs [14].

#### **3.3 Origin of technology transfer HUBs in Chile**

Technology transfer hubs were created by Corfo as a public policy that sought to close the gap between the generation of technologies in universities and research *Science-Based Technological Transfer as a Key Tool in Public Health DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.98704*

centers and their transference to the market, using the "on campus - off campus" model described above. Hubs are associative organizations comprised by several universities and research centers, which are linked to companies, trade associations, investment and venture capital funds, among others. According to Corfo, "the Hubs should perform functions of technological surveillance and competitive intelligence, intellectual property management, commercialization of licenses, and creation and assistance to spin-offs. It also involves closing capability gaps required by the TLOs, through their own work, or by intermediating external capabilities." [14].

The specific objectives are: [14].


"The expected outcomes of this new program are: [14].

• Development of a HUB's 10-year strategic plan that considers a governance and business model that allows the achievement of its objectives and sustainability.


To finance the hubs, Corfo launched in 2015 a competitive award to subsidy 80% of the total cost of the project, with a maximum of USD 8,000,000 for 5 years, and a potential extension of a second 5-year period.

"The projects were selected after an international evaluation. Subsequently, an internal Corfo committee reviewed the proposals and decided to fund the three proposed projects: HubTec, Know Hub Chile (KH) and Andes Pacific Technology Access (APTA), each focused primarily on agriculture; health; industrial production, technology and energy and comprised by a group of Chilean universities, companies, research centers and technology centers." [15].
