Autonomous Systems and Robotics

Chile’s autonomous systems and robotics sector is driven by strong demand in the mining, agriculture, logistics, and service industries. According to Statista, the Chilean robotics market is valued at approximately $65 million in 2025, with the majority concentrated in AI-enabled service robotics. The mining sector is a major adopter. Companies like Pronto and RAICO have deployed autonomous haulage trucks supported by private 5G networks: while CODELCO and the University of Chile’s Advancing Mining Technology Center are using autonomous ground robots for mine mapping and safety inspections.

In agriculture, researchers at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile are piloting AI-powered robots for fruit harvesting, and the Israeli startup Tevel has partnered with Chilean Unifruitti to operate flying harvesting drones in Chilean orchards. Precision agriculture drones are receiving significant attention in Chile because they assist with crop monitoring, irrigation assessment, and targeted pesticide application. Companies that deploy drones for glacier monitoring and land-use planning, particularly in remote or ecologically sensitive areas, are able to collect data that will be of use to environmental agencies. Robotics are also being applied in retail with technologies that scan supermarket shelves overnight and applications ranging from cleaning bots to teleoperated machines and AI prosthetics.

This growth is supported by government-backed initiatives under the Corporation for the Promotion of Production (CORFO) such as Industria 4.0 and Start-Up Chile, which fund research and development (R&D) and tech startups in robotics and automation. Industria 4.0, in particular, has accelerated the modernization of the agri-food sector. However, regulatory barriers have slowed the widespread commercial deployment of drones. Chile’s Dirección General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC) enforces strict controls on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, especially in urban areas, requiring permits, operator licensing, and compliance with visual line-of-sight rules. Nonetheless, the regulatory environment is evolving. Drones are expected to become a more integral part of Chile’s automation and robotics landscape.

Biotechnologies

Chile’s biotechnologies market is growing but still emerging. In 2016, CORFO announced the Biotechnology Strategy 2030, which focuses on: (1) enabling conditions for biotechnological development, (2) critical infrastructure and human capital, and (3) innovation and investment. According to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, there were 329 registered scientific-technological based companies (EBCTs) in 2021. Thirty percent were linked to biotechnologies. Fifty-five percent of these offer services, while the remaining 45 percent are manufacturers. In addition to being a government priority, this sector is stimulated by strong demand in medical diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural technologies.

According to Statista, the country’s medical technology sector is projected to generate approximately $2.94 billion in revenue in 2025. Molecular diagnostics, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and next generation sequencing (NGS) testing tools, form a key part of this. Similarly, the in-vitro diagnostics market, spanning laboratory reagents, kits, and instruments, is supported by a rising prevalence of chronic diseases. Chile also plays a role in the pharmaceutical manufacturing chain, particularly through active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). According to Grand View Research, the market was valued at $481 million in 2023. Synthetic API production is a primary interest.

Agricultural biotechnology also presents an area of opportunity, especially in the use of genetically modified crops, synthetic biology, and bio-inputs like biofertilizers and pest-resistant varieties. Although detailed public market estimates are limited, reports show rising investment in Chile’s agri-biotech sector due to demand for innovations in crop resilience. PhageLab has been a case of success as a Chilean company that deploys AI to fight infections in livestock farming. Government agencies like CORFO and the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) are actively supporting research and entrepreneurship in this space. One key initiative is BIGinBIO, led by The Ganesha Lab, which mentors and funds emerging biotechnology firms in Chile. However, Chile’s R&D intensity is still relatively low compared to regional leaders like Brazil and Mexico. Human capital is another concern with limited availability of highly trained professionals in advanced life sciences. 

Space Technologies and Systems

The Government of Chile has become increasingly interested in satellite technology. In 2019, the Government of Chile announced the National Space Program, followed by a 2021 announcement of implementation of a National Satellite System (SNSat). According to the Ministry of Defense, SNSat is the first phase of the National Space Program, which is currently planned for nine satellites that will have access to a broader range of 250 international satellites. SpaceX is expected to launch the nine satellites, which will include two mini-satellites and seven micro-satellites. These will not only replace Chile’s only previous satellite on-orbit, known as FASat-Charlie, but add further remote-sensing capabilities.

Chile’s geography has many areas where land mobile networks are not available, and satellite communications play a vital role in industrial operations in remote locations. There are at least a dozen suppliers of satellite internet in Chile. Companies in the market include Starlink, Hughes, ifxNetwork, Axessnet, Tesacom, Globalsat, and others. Satellite projects such as the FASat-Echo series (FASat Echo 1 and FASat Echo 2) serve purposes beyond telecommunications, including environmental monitoring and educational initiatives.

There is no active civilian space agency in the Chilean government. Space affairs are currently under the direction of the Advisory Commission Council on Space Policy, which consists of several ministry heads and is chaired by the Ministry of Science. Their primary objective is to advise Chile’s President on proposals that will strengthen and develop Chile’s national space capabilities. On July 4, 2024, the Ministry of Science released Chile’s National Space Policy. The policy begins with the global trend of “New Space”, which it defines as the democratization of the sector brought on by the increased involvement of commercial actors and the reduction of costs. Chile intends to leverage this “New Space” to accelerate their plans of becoming a regional space leader and a reliable international partner in space.

Future opportunities for U.S. companies include co-developing Earth observation, communication, and navigation satellites, providing satellite manufacturing components, offering ground station equipment, and delivering data analytics services. U.S. businesses considering entering the market should note the evolving regulatory environment and potential conflicts with technologies under export controls. Chile also recognizes the need for collaboration between universities, organizations, and industry. The National Space Program, under the direction of the Ministry of Science and the Chilean Air Force (FACh), is actively seeking international partners. FACh have pursued “Engineering with Industry” exchanges in which they send FACh officers to the United States to familiarize themselves with modern practices for Assembly, Integration, and Test (AIT) and satellite operations. Opportunities exist for PPP capacity building, bids on government procurement, and joint R&D projects.

Financial Technologies

Chile’s financial technologies (fintech) sector is experiencing growth with over 300 Chilean fintech startups focused on payments, remittances, financial management, and lending. In 2024, fewer new fintech companies entered the market compared to previous years; however, fewer companies exited the market, leading to a greater domestic market size. These companies are expanding their operations into regional markets, such as Argentina and Brazil, which have a more mature fintech culture.

In January 2023, the Boric government signed the Fintech Law, facilitating competition and innovation in financial technologies. This regulatory framework delegates supervisory powers to the Commission for the Financial Market (CMF) over fintech technologies, such as crowdfunding platforms and alternative transaction systems. The law also establishes an Open Banking System that permits financial service providers to exchange customer information with one another.

There are three core trends shaping the Chilean fintech market. First, the business-to-business (B2B) sales model is robust, as large corporations and financial institutions are the principal buyers of fintech technologies. According to Galileo Financial Technology Platform, B2B models represented 37 percent of total customer demand in 2024, which differentiates Chile from other Latin America fintech cultures. Second, Chilean fintech companies working on payments and remittances have boomed in transaction volumes. Foreign fintech providers have also entered this segment of the market to capitalize on the growth. Lastly, Chile’s Fintech Law is viewed favorably as a stimulant of the sector. U.S. fintech companies may find opportunities in the Chilean fintech market as the sector surges, especially in the digital assets vertical, which a DataCube Research reports to project annual growth of almost 14 percent until 2032.
 

Cross-Enabling Technologies

Integrated Communication and Network Technologies

Chile is recognized as one of Latin America’s most advanced digital markets. It is characterized by high mobile and fixed internet penetration, a robust regulatory framework, strong public-private partnerships, and major investments in fiber optics, 5G, and submarine connectivity. According to Mordor Intelligence, Chile’s telecommunications sector is expected to grow at an annual rate of about 6 percent and reach a $10 billion valuation by 2029. The market is largely liberalized and competitive, with multiple telecom operators offering integrated services, including mobile, broadband, TV, and enterprise solutions. Chile maintains large investments in 5G as the first country in Latin America to start building 5G networks in 2021. The Chilean government has announced that it has already surpassed its goal of 90 percent countrywide access to 5G coverage.

There are several key market players in Chile. According to Fitch Ratings, Entel is the largest mobile operator, with approximately 35 percent market share. Movistar (Telefónica) and Claro Chile compete in fixed broadband and mobile, while Mundo is aggressively expanding fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) coverage in underserved/geographically isolated communities. VTR is Chile’s main cable operator.

Advanced and Networked Sensing and Signature Management

The advanced and networked sensing and signature management market refers to a collection of high-tech systems used for detecting, monitoring, and concealing the physical or electronic presence of assets across various domains. They are primarily used in defense, aerospace, and smart infrastructure applications. Chile’s market combines military, civil, and industrial demand for both sensor-based detection systems and methods for managing observability (signatures). Advanced and networked sensing interest is driven by defense modernization, disaster management, environmental monitoring, and energy management priorities, while signature management interest is driven by Chile’s need for better cybersecurity response.

According to Statista, Chile’s autonomous and sensor technology market is projected to be reach approximately $96 million in 2025. Chile’s civil and industrial Internet of Things (IoT) sensing is growing 15-20 percent annually due to renewable grid and smart infrastructure demands. Statista also expects defense-grade sensing to maintain 8-12 percent annual growth, which is comparable to regional trends. On the signature management front, the demand for cybersecurity is increasing because of increasing cyberattacks. Chile is interested in four sub-segments of cybersecurity, including network, data, application, and cloud security. While specific Chilean studies on stealth tech are scarce, modernization patterns point to an active role in reducing the observability of military platforms. According to Army Technology, these markets are highly symbiotic because sensor networks produce critical data that must be protected.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Chile has emerged as a leader in Latin America’s AI sector, including across policy, infrastructure, innovation, research, and regional collaboration. Chile launched its National Policy on Artificial Intelligence in 2021, which contained 70 priority actions and 185 various public-sector initiatives spanning ten years. The policy calls for $26 billion of public investment to be allocated toward AI skill-building accelerators, R&D initiatives between universities and the private sector, and the deployment of the 5G National Connectivity System. As of July 2025, Chile’s Senate was considering an AI Bill that would regulate the uses of AI systems and further promote ethnical deployment. Leading the Latam-GPT project, a large language model (LLM) with capabilities comparable to OpenAI’s ChatGPT 3.5, Chile’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge and Innovation (CTCI) and National AI Center (CENIA) seek to build a homegrown AI system that reflects the cultural reality and history of the region. In collaboration with over 30 other regional institutions, the Chilean GPT project is in its final stages of development.

Chile recognizes that human capital is essential in fostering an innovation ecosystem. Chile tops the Latin American AI Index (ILIA 2024), outperforming its neighbors in technological infrastructure, training programs, and supporting policies. Programs such as CORFO’s Startup Chile have incubated 1,600+ startups from over 80 countries since 2010. Awardees are given equity-free seed capital, a one-year visa, and connections to a body of potential mentors and investors in the industry.

Data Security and Cybersecurity

In December 2023, President Boric launched the National Cybersecurity Policy 2023-2028. The Policy aims to: (1) create resilient information infrastructure, (2) protect personal data, (3) develop a cybersecurity culture through education, (4) encourage national and international coordination, and (5) promote industry and scientific research. In March 2024, President Boric signed Chile’s Cybersecurity Framework Law, making Chile the first country in Latin America to establish a cybersecurity agency and regulatory framework.

The law created the National Cybersecurity Agency (ANCI), which drafts and enforces cybersecurity regulations. The National Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT), which is responsible for responding to cyber attacks and other cyber threats, reports directly to ANCI. Chile experienced 27.6 billion cyberattack attempts in 2024, a 360 percent increase from 2023. As noted in G5 Noticias, the more formidable threat landscape has made Chile interested in investing in cybersecurity solutions.

Chile has also suffered from a shortage of cybersecurity and IT professionals and is estimated to lack 28,000 cybersecurity experts to meet public and private needs. Chilean companies have historically turned to U.S. cybersecurity firms for partnerships.

In accordance with its National Data Center Plan, Chile hosts 58 data centers under the operation of 22 global companies. As of mid-2025, 30 new projects worth $4.2 billion were currently underway. According to InvestChile, Chile aims to attract investments up to $2.5 billion for the installation of 28 new projects. In June 2025, Microsoft inaugurated its Cloud Region in Chile that provides Chileans with infrastructure for advanced digital services.

Goods and Services Related to Supply Chain Resilience

Chile is implementing methodologies to assess and improve resilience across critical sectors like energy, mining, transportation, and telecommunications.

Mining Concession Projects

Chile’s mining concessions are primarily related to the lithium industry. Only two companies, SQM and Albermarle, extract lithium in Chile. In April 2024, the Ministry of Mining approved the Procedure for Issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for Projects for the Exploration, Extraction, and Processing of Lithium Contained in Salt Flats or Other Types of Deposits. The Procedure gives guidance on how Special Lithium Operation Contracts (CEOLs) may be granted under the National Lithium Strategy of 2023. The Chilean government retains ownership of all lithium resources: thus, companies must obtain special contracts or partnerships with the state to legally extract lithium. CEOLs are awarded by the Chilean government to qualified bidders seeking to mine lithium in salt flats across the country. Bidders may be Chilean or foreign companies.

There are 31 salt flats that are either completely or partially available for private lithium extraction under the RFI. In September 2024, the Chilean government identified six salt flats (known in Chile as salares) as initial priority areas for CEOL assignment. Each of these salares may receive one CEOL. In December 2024, the government announced six additional lithium deposits as the next round for CEOL allocation. As of July 2025, no CEOLs have been officially signed. Chile is still processing applications submitted by investors. More salt flats are expected to be open to bidding in the future.

Recycling Solutions to Extract and Reuse Critical Minerals

In July 2021, Chile’s Ministry of Environment launched Chile’s Circular Economy Roadmap, which characterizes high-value material recovery, including critical minerals, as a part of long-term waste reduction and regenerative goals. In the plan, Chile committed to increasing the general recycling rate 75 percent by 2040. There are four primary recycling solutions to extract and reuse critical minerals in Chile. These include: (1) mechanical pretreatment, which shreds batteries into black mass, (2) hydrometallurgy, which employs acid to recover cobalt, (3) direct reuse, which reintegrates EV-grade cathode materials into power-storage systems, and (4) tailings extraction, which processes mineral waste for rare earth element recovery.

In January 2025, CORFO, Chile’s state development agency, announced its Tailing-to-Minerals Initiative under which it will sponsor and fund projects up to $3-4 million that extract cobalt and rare earth elements from nearly 800 mining waste sites across Chile. CORFO has also allocated $41.8 million to the Lithium Innovation Challenge to boost sustainable development. Using funds from contracts with SQM and Albemarle, seven projects have been rewarded. These include pilot-scale metallic lithium production, EV lithium battery reuse, and hydrometallurgy efforts. There has also been significant startup and corporation participation. Ecominería works to convert Li-Co battery waste into reusable material, while Relitia and Andes Electronics respectively build battery-recycling technologies and repurpose Li-ion batteries. 

This is an emerging industry in Chile that has not gained significant attention until recently, and demand for these services is increasing. 

Chemicals

Products derived from petroleum such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene are produced in Chile only by state-owned Empresa Nacional del Petróleo (ENAP). Thus, the industrial chemical industry relies on imports from different markets, including the United States. Since 2004, the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) provides tariff-free access for U.S. chemical exports to Chile. Bilateral trade continues to grow, with chemicals among the top U.S. export categories to Chile surpassing $2 billion in 2024.

There are various sectors in which U.S. chemicals can play a salient role. According to the Chilean Ministry of Agriculture, crop protection chemical usage in Chile is growing at an annual rate of 6 percent. Furthermore, the surge in industrial water treatment facilities as Chile’s water needs become increasingly strained requires special cooling and boiler chemicals. Demand for these resources is growing at a pace of 7 percent annually, as referenced in Grand View Research. Lastly, as Chile transforms its energy matrix to include more renewable energies, opportunities are increasing for chemical and tech firms that offer advanced catalysts and electrolyzer materials for green hydrogen production.

There are two main regulations that affect the chemical industry. Chile’s DS 57, or Decree 57, is a regulation of the Ministry of Health that establishes the rules for the classification, labeling, and notification of hazardous chemical substances and mixtures in Chile. This regulation seeks to implement the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) for hazardous chemicals and to protect the safety of workers and the environment. Second, the modification of Chile’s Supreme Decree 1,358, which entered into force on August 13, 2024, establishes new regulations for the control of precursors and essential chemical substances provided for in Law 20,000, which penalizes the illicit trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The purpose of this regulatory change is to improve regulation and supervision in the sector.

Chile’s Industrial Chemical Association (ASIQUIM) logistics commission began its work in early 2024 with the aim of analyzing and discussing strategic issues affecting logistics management and foreign trade in the chemical industry. The goal is to improve efficiency and safety in logistics operations, including in the distribution and access to port services as well as unification of port regulations. ASIQUIM aims to increase its participation in government infrastructure commissions, coordinate the training of highway concessionaires in the handling of hazardous substances, and support companies in the implementation of standards. The association is also interested in developing a guidance document to support companies in complying with new import requirements, which may impact U.S. companies.