Micro, small and medium-sized companies that apply to the “Despega tu emprendimiento” contest have a new opportunity to participate as protagonists of the AQUASUR 2024 Fair, which has extended the application deadlines to benefit from a 60% co-financing to pay for a stand at the most important aquaculture fair in the southern hemisphere. This initiative is promoted by a group of U.S. universities with the support of IncubatecUFRO of the Universidad de La Frontera and Fisa, organizer of AQUASUR 2024. The new call was extended until Wednesday, January 31 and will consider in the selection process some elements such as the diversity of MSME suppliers representing the aquaculture industry in the region, such as salmon and shellfish farming, among others. The extension of the deadline, according to the organizers, was due to the high demand that the contest has aroused in the aquaculture industry. This was explained by Federico Huneeus, professor of economics at Duke University and leader of the contest’s organizing team, who stated that “this initiative, which is part of a study implemented by researchers from Harvard University, Yale University, Boston University and Duke itself, focuses on micro, small and medium-sized companies -mainly suppliers- rather than large companies, since the aim is to narrow the gaps that we have detected in the Chilean aquaculture industry”. In this context, the specialist summarized that the main thing “is to facilitate access to startups and SMEs to strengthen their growth, close technology gaps with industry leaders and increase the productivity of the sector as a whole,” said Huneeus. Award On the side of IncubatecUFRO, its representative for the southern macro-zone, Mario Núñez Arancibia, said that “the participating SMEs will have the unique opportunity to participate in the most important aquaculture fair in the southern hemisphere, an event that will bring together the national and international aquaculture industry and will be the most relevant meeting point for decision-makers seeking disruptive solutions to improve the different processes involved in aquaculture”. A factor highlighted by the manager of the Regional Strategic Program for the Chilean Mussel, operated by Corfo Los Lagos, Javier Aros, is the drive for greater diversification of aquaculture items at AQUASUR 2024, highlighting a greater boost to mitiliculture. “Our country is the world’s second largest producer of mussels or mussel mussels and the world’s leading exporter of this product. Therefore, having suppliers that offer products and services to mussel farmers is essential and even better if you have the option of co-financing to be present at the fair. For this reason, we join the invitation to apply for this fund, which is now open”, he said. The winners of the “Despega tu emprendimiento” contest will be eligible for a 60% subsidy for the cost of a 2 square meter (m2) stand to exhibit their products and/or services at the AQUASUR 2024 fair. The prize has an estimated value of $537,000 Chilean pesos (the approximate total cost of a stand is $895,000) and all legal entities that are suppliers of products or services to the aquaculture industry may apply free of charge. How to apply? Follow the steps below: 1. Fill out the form on this page. 2. The page will automatically redirect to the second step: a short application survey. Complete this survey. If you are not redirected to the survey, please send an e-mail to despega@aqua-sur.cl. 3. Upon completion of the survey, you will automatically be sent a confirmation email. If you completed the survey but did not receive the confirmation email, please let us know by emailing despega@aqua-sur.cl. 4. The call for entries will be open until Wednesday, January 31. 5. The winners will be chosen randomly (the administrative committee of the contest reserves the right to select the participating companies that comply with the rules of the call).