Determined that CEDENNA’s work should reach the business world with force and contribute decisively to the country’s scientific and technological development, Carola Fuentes, Development Manager at Icare, accepted a few months ago the invitation to join our center’s Board.
With a smile that radiates energy and optimism and a warm, vital outlook, this successful business engineer came ready to contribute as much as possible to continue driving CEDENNA as a hub of first-class science development, “key if we think about Chile’s sustainable long-term growth.”
In the midst of her busy daily schedule, she takes time to talk with us and share some of her ideas and views.
- What made you decide to join this Board?
Without a doubt I was motivated by being part of such a distinguished body made up of outstanding professionals from the worlds of science, academia and business. Some time ago I learned about the institution’s work as a remarkable hub of first-class science development. I am excited and honored by the idea of helping its work reach the business world with greater force and contribute to the country’s necessary scientific and technological development, a key element if we think about sustainable long-term growth.
- It is important to have one more woman on CEDENNA’s board. You have followed a path generally dominated by men and have advanced successfully. In science there is also gender work under way. What has your experience been, and what lessons could you share with us?
I believe the biggest challenge for women is balancing family responsibilities while working in environments with historically male cultural and performance codes. Regarding family responsibilities, it is important to have, or else create, a support network that allows us to meet both obligations with peace of mind and fully pursue our purpose.
Organizations that support their female talent with initiatives of this kind, as CEDENNA has done, see the benefits of having access to a highly committed pool of first-class talent.
On the other hand, at work, recognizing and identifying cultural codes in order to make them visible and work on them has worked for me. In this sense, women in leadership roles, whatever they may be, have a responsibility to open spaces for the women who accompany and will succeed us.
- How do you see CEDENNA in the present and future, especially in technology transfer?
I believe CEDENNA is remarkably well positioned to take on the challenges of developing technology transfer. It is an organization whose culture is one of interdisciplinary collaboration and that has concrete, real accumulated experience in working with companies and developing spin-offs.
While maintaining its recognized excellence in research, it will probably need to expand certain skills already present in the organization and persist along the path it has set. As we know, the road to success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
- How is CEDENNA perceived by the private sector? What advice would you give us to strengthen our positioning and alliances with companies and the private sector?
Unfortunately, I believe there is little knowledge about the scientific and technological capabilities available in the country. We have been guilty of keeping conversations in silos of similar fields, academic, scientific and business; it is time to break these silos and build a virtuous ecosystem of collaboration. In a challenging environment, companies will have to face new challenges with innovation and bet on greater productivity. That is where CEDENNA and its capabilities can play an important role by connecting with the problems and dilemmas facing companies and the country.
- What is missing in business-science synergy to increase investment and achieve greater national development in this area? Do you trust that the announced tax reform will stimulate investment in science and innovation?
I trust the money will be there for initiatives that manage to demonstrate the value they generate, insofar as they are aligned with the interests of those making the investment.
That alignment, which can be achieved in the collaboration process, is key for an initial initiative to reach future stages of development and growth. Many initiatives will require evolution and adjustments, and that is where the relationship between the stakeholders involved will bear the most fruit.
- And finally, what message would you give to CEDENNA’s researchers who do frontier science in a country that barely spends 0.3 percent of its GDP on R&D? Science done with effort but also with excellence.
What I could tell them is that their daily work and dedication are decisive for the country’s future. Their resilience will be key. Those involved in science have this skill, as well as that of exploration, highly developed.
Their effort creates new opportunities, solves problems that affect us and ultimately has the potential to improve people’s quality of life.
