We are a leading scientific center at the Latin American level, developing frontier and multidisciplinary research on the fundamental problems concerning data. Our research ranges from the origin of data, as a complex computational unit, to its use and social impact. To address these problems comprehensively, we bring together experts in computer science, statistics, political science, and communications.

The Millennium Institute for Foundational Research on Data (IMFD) is hosted at the Pontificia Universidad Católica and the Universidad de Chile, with research nodes at Universidad Federico Santa María, Universidad de Concepción, Universidad de Talca, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Universidad San Sebastián and Universidad Mayor.

We are funded by the Millennium Scientific Initiative of the National Agency for Research and Development, ANID. Millennium Institutes are Chilean centers, with legal autonomy, that carry out scientific and technological research at the forefront of knowledge in their respective disciplines. Through these centers of excellence, of which the Millennium Institute for Foundational Research on Data is a part, the strengthening of high-level scientific and technological capabilities is promoted at the national level, along with the dissemination and transfer of knowledge to different sectors of society.

Our independent, scientifically grounded, and multidisciplinary work seeks to address data in all its dimensions and to further the understanding of a digital universe that reflects the phenomena and profound changes taking place in our society, thereby providing tools to detect and give visibility to critical needs and emerging phenomena. Our Innovation and Technology Transfer Department works on applying these techniques, based on cutting-edge science and technology, to extract value from data, fostering the development of Chile and the region, and providing data-related solutions for industry, the public sector, and society.

With this, we hope to contribute to strengthening research in data science, to training specialized human capital in the emerging problems of the field, and to fostering a culture that understands and promotes the value of truthful, secure, and transparent digital information. We firmly believe that this will help promote integrity, data-driven decision-making, improved public management in service of the country, and the strengthening of democracy.

Our institute is an evolution of the Semantic Web Research Center, which established itself over the years as one of the leading centers in the field.

The internal work of the institute is organized through boards. The IMFD Board is in charge of all strategic decisions and is made up of the leaders of the Flagship Projects, in addition to the directors. The Executive Board handles operations and tactical decisions. The Advisory Committee is made up of renowned scientists who provide advice and guidance on the research we conduct, as well as on academic training, networks, and outreach, with the aim of developing the institute’s scientific potential in the best possible way.