Astronomy, Technology, Industry. Roadmap for the Fostering of Technology Development and Innovation in the Field of Astronomy in Chile

Abstract

The skies over Chile are well recognized as a global natural resource for astronomy. How can this natural resource best benefit Chile? To be sure, the presence of so much of the world’s telescope inventory already benefits Chile with prestige and an ever growing community of international scientists. Astronomy appears frequently in the Chilean media. Astronomy and its community have become part of the cultural tapestry of modern Chile. Looking ahead, nearly 2/3 of the world’s telescope light collecting area in the visible and infrared wavelengths may soon be located in northern Chile and Chile already hosts the highest sensitivity collecting area in the millimeter and sub-millimeter radio bands. It is imperative to ask how this global asset, located in Chile, can be leveraged beyond global astronomy to benefit Chilean science, education, industry and development. Furthermore, is there a path by which Chile can leap beyond incremental gains in leveraging this asset to leap frog into the front ranks of global astronomy technology and innovation. Chile can seek to leverage its many international observatories to strengthen general education, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. Chile may act to stimulate Chilean astronomy itself. Industrial development can occur through captured innovation, elevation of skills and engineering challenges within Chilean industry and expansion of the service industries supporting the observatories. Chile can move into a more collaborative posture with international observatories and with international firms leading technology delivered to observatories in Chile.