CMPC inaugurates renovated R&D Center in Nacimiento to boost innovation in wood, pulp, and bioeconomy

With a completely modernized infrastructure, new laboratories, and a research team that has tripled in size in recent years, CMPC inaugurated this Monday the renovated facilities of its Industrial Research and Development (R&D) Center, located at the Santa Fe Plant in the commune of Nacimiento. The investment marks a new stage for one of the company's main technological innovation hubs, from which applied solutions are developed for operations in Chile and Brazil, as well as new products with a view toward international markets.

The ceremony brought together regional and communal authorities, representatives from the academic and scientific world, community leaders, and company executives. Among the attendees were the regional presidential delegate of Biobío, Julio Anativia; the provincial presidential delegate of Biobío, Juan Pablo Mellado; the regional minister of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation for Biobío and Ñuble, Pedro Ramírez; the mayor of Nacimiento, Carlos Toloza Soto, as well as representatives from universities and research centers.

The event included the project presentation, a tour of the new facilities, and the traditional ribbon-cutting, which officially marked the start of a new stage for a center that has driven applied research in the forestry industry for nearly three decades.

A commitment to innovation for the next decade

During the inauguration, CMPC's Vice President of Industrial Operations, Felipe Alcalde, highlighted that the renovation constitutes one of the most significant investments the company is making in technological development.

"This is one of the main investments we have from the point of view of knowledge development and applied technology, understanding that everything done here at this center travels around the world. The products developed reach different continents, and this center is a concrete fact regarding our commitment to continue improving and to keep competing globally from this region," he stated.

The executive recalled that the facility began operations in 1996 under the name Technical Management and, over time, became a strategic platform for developing technologies that today support various industrial operations at CMPC.

"Today we are relaunching that future-oriented initiative that is already three decades old, and this commitment continues stronger than ever. We have great challenges, but also enormous opportunities to keep growing," he affirmed.

More laboratories and greater scientific capacity

The renovation responded to the sustained growth of the research team, which went from 17 to 52 professionals, and to the need for infrastructure suited to the company's new technological challenges.

The project involved the renovation of nearly one thousand square meters, incorporating specialized laboratories, a new reagent storage area, collaborative spaces, and a complete redistribution of offices.

CMPC's Manager of Research, Development, and Bioeconomy, Bibiana Rubini, explained that the new facilities were designed with the research needs of the next ten years in mind.

"This center was planned with the next ten years in mind. We expanded laboratories, created new spaces, and completely remodeled the offices to accommodate more people," she explained.

Among the main new features is the incorporation of a specialized fiber laboratory, intended to study pulp quality and develop new applications for this material.

"Our product is pulp, and here we will be able to study its quality, develop new applications, and work on different materials. That laboratory is already fully operational and generating information," she indicated.

Research for new processes and products

From this center, research is carried out that covers the entire forestry value chain, from improving forest resources to obtaining new materials derived from wood and fiber.

Rubini explained that the scientific work aims to optimize industrial processes, increase productivity, and open new opportunities for the bioeconomy.

"We understand how the tree is produced, how to make the forest more productive, we select genetic materials, and how we transform that forest into pulp and papers, in addition to other products that contribute to the development of the bioeconomy," she stated.

For his part, Felipe Alcalde highlighted that many of the solutions developed in Nacimiento are already used in various CMPC operations within and outside the country.

"This center develops products that are sold worldwide. It also controls the quality of factories in Chile and other countries, in addition to generating capabilities where new businesses and new applications for wood are being considered, such as construction and other uses," he asserted.

Currently, the Industrial R&D Center concentrates laboratories and technical capabilities aimed at carrying out analyses, validations, simulations, and tests focused on optimizing processes, improving product quality, and evaluating technologies before their implementation on an industrial scale.

One of the highlights during the inauguration was the close collaboration the center maintains with universities, technology centers, and the innovation ecosystem.

Felipe Alcalde recalled that several of the technologies CMPC uses today were developed together with academic institutions. "For many years we have built a collaboration network with universities, research centers, and the entrepreneurial world. Part of the technology that controls this plant was developed together with a university, and also the quality system that all CMPC plants in Chile and Brazil use today was born here," he commented.

The executive added that one of the objectives is to continue strengthening the training and retention of professionals in the Biobío Region. "This center should also be an opportunity for local talent to work, specialize, and contribute to developing solutions that can have a global impact," he indicated.

Bibiana Rubini agreed on the importance of boosting regional human capital. "We want to continue developing technology and knowledge for CMPC's processes, prioritizing the incorporation of local professionals and strengthening collaboration with universities and researchers to build the future together," she concluded.