The origins of ChileMass trace back to 2011, when Chilean President Sebastián Piñera invited Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick to Chile for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting collaboration and knowledge transfer between the two regions. As demand grew, thanks to the vision of CORFO (Chile’s economic development agency), the Chilean Embassy, and under the leadership of President Michelle Bachelet, they decided to take further action by creating a nonprofit organization in the heart of the world’s most innovative square mile, Kendall Square. In 2017, Chile Massachusetts Alliance Inc was established as a 501c3 nonprofit organization, with its inaugural board comprising five members, seed capital from CORFO, and support from both governments.

From 2018 onward, ChileMass began developing its initial programs. ChileMass Teachers was launched to promote education tailored to the 21st century skills. The following year saw the creation of ChileMass Hub, serving companies and public/private institutions seeking to engage with cutting-edge technologies. Subsequently, ChileMass Emprende was established to assist Chilean startups improve their technologies and scale-up into American market.

Throughout these years, ChileMass has been a strong advocate for public-private partnerships, generating projects with economic, social, and environmental impact, and tirelessly collaborating with stakeholders across various industries and sectors. Promoting Chile and its merits has also been a driving force, particularly through events like the ChileMass Innovation Day, the largest Chilean innovation gathering abroad, held annually at prestigious universities in the Boston area.

During this time, ChileMass has expanded its projects and network, thanks to a dedicated community of volunteers who support and encourage us to continue our mission of fostering greater public good, strengthening the bridge for technological transfer and knowledge exchange between the two places. There’s much more to be done, and we firmly believe in the tremendous potential we possess. We rely on your support to ensure that this path towards a better future for our countries continues to grow and strengthen!