ITL launches its second Open Innovation Call to accelerate the development of clean technologies in mining, water resources, lithium and renewable energy from Antofagasta

The Institute of Clean Technologies (ITL) presented today, at Exponor 2026, the opening of its second Open Innovation Call, an initiative aimed at identifying and developing technological solutions that address challenges in mining, energy, water resources and lithium, with a focus on the Northern Macrozone.

The call is structured around a set of specific Industrial Innovation challenges, organized into four lines: water resources (water and tailings), energy transition and climate resilience, lithium and advanced materials, and lower-footprint mining. This stage corresponds to a Request for Information (RFI): an exploratory phase that invites innovation projects to present their solutions related to these challenges.

Governance: strategic vision and institutional mandate

Carlos Portillo, Chair of the ITL Board, framed the call within the institutional mandate and governance framework that gave rise to the Institute.

“ITL was born of a strategic commitment for Chile not only to extract its resources, but to develop its own world-class technology. Within the framework of the agreement between Corfo and Novandino that underpins our work, the Board has defined a clear roadmap: to turn the Northern Macrozone into a hub for clean-technology innovation, with rigorous governance and transparency in every decision. This second call is the concrete expression of that vision and of the standard of public-private collaboration we want to consolidate.”

Four fronts, real industrial problems

The solutions sought address concrete operational problems: moving toward zero-liquid-discharge schemes and reducing water losses to evaporation; improving energy efficiency in water transport and pumping, and enabling real-time water management; supporting the circular economy of solar and wind waste and resilient energy supply for isolated industries; scaling cathode and anode materials for lithium-ion batteries; and optimizing flotation and leaching to reduce waste and inputs in mining.

Management: results and execution

Patricio Aguilera, Executive Director of ITL, addressed the progress made during the period and the way this call builds on what has already been established.

“This second call builds on the lessons and results of the first and on the capacities we have installed over the past year. Operationally, we are opening a 100% online process, with clear rules, defined deadlines and technical support from our teams. What sets it apart is that ITL co-invests and shares the risk: we are not looking only for proponents, we are looking for partners to co-develop technology. And every initiative must leave capacities in the territory —infrastructure, data, protocols and talent— in line with our goal of training 1,100 specialists in the region.”

An open and collaborative call

ITL partners and external legal entities—companies, technology-based companies (TBCs), startups, scale-ups, R&D centers and universities, whether national or international— may participate. Solutions must demonstrate a minimum technology maturity of TRL 4, preferably TRL 5 at entry. Applications are submitted exclusively through ITL’s digital platform.

Regional support

Ricardo Díaz, Regional Governor of Antofagasta, commented that “the Institute of Clean Technologies is an institution based in the Antofagasta Region which, through the resources of the agreement between Corfo and Novandino, helps to foster innovation and competitiveness within the region. This call seeks to encourage the use of new technologies that benefit the region and pursue the best use of lithium as an instrument for Antofagasta’s future development. We therefore call on all technology-based companies to take part in these calls and help strengthen the region’s development.”

How and when to apply

The terms and the application platform will be published on June 15, 2026 on ITL’s official website: https://itlchile.com/desafios. The Q&A period will be open between June 15 and July 15, and applications will be received until July 31, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (GMT-4).

About ITL

The Institute of Clean Technologies (ITL) is a private, non-profit corporation domiciled in Antofagasta whose mission is to position Chile as a world leader in the development and use of clean technologies, strengthening technological and human capacities and consolidating a sustainable, decentralized innovation ecosystem in the Northern Macrozone, with a focus on the mining and energy sectors and their value chains.