Chile hot for Cambridge technology

Cambridge Connection, which is promoting the UK technology cluster to new global partners, has opened up Chile for the respective business communities.

Having helped set up several new trade links with peers in Singapore, the collaboration powerhouse has brokered a collaborative opportunity for Cambridge in South America through its efforts in Santiago.

Struan McDougall of Cambridge Capital Group, a key player in the initiative told Business Weekly that new territories were on the radar, including Hong Kong.

“Cambridge Connection Santiago is an extension of Cambridge Connection Singapore last year. Cambridge Capital Group is going international to assist our portfolio companies and attract foreign investors into the Cambridge cluster.

“In June we will be repeating our event in Singapore with Taylor Vinters and going on to Hong Kong where we have personal connections through two of our members. In Chile we work with one of our international members, Zentynel, a private life sciences investment group.” The Chile venture was supported by UKTI and a range of high profile Chilean sponsors including Fundacion Chile, the Cambridge Society of Chile, Fraunhofer Chile, Carey (Chile’s leading law international law firm) and Chile Global Angels.

Cambridge early-stage companies who took part in a ‘Pitch Fest’ at the Prince of Wales Country Club were Pneumacare, Ionscope and Knowledge Transmission – a portfolio company already selling into South America – as well as Cambridge Capital Group itself and eight local hi-tech start-ups.

Receptions were hosted by the UKTI and Carey law firm. CCG International investors also visited Harting Group, a private chemical business diversifying into Omega 3 and anti-cholesterol nutraceuticals.

McDougall said: “Today Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. It leads Latin American nations in human development, competitiveness, income per capita, globalisation, state of peace, economic freedom, and low perception of corruption.

“It also ranks high regionally in sustainability of the state and democratic development. In May 2010, Chile became the first South American nation to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

“Chile is a founding member of the United Nations, the Union of South American Nations and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. Since July 2013, Chile is considered by the World Bank as a high-income economy and hence as a developed country.”