José Fuentes, director of the Master in Data Science for Innovation at UdeC: "We need an ecosystem where data drives innovation".

The Universidad de Concepción opened the 2026 call for applications for the Master in Data Science for Innovation (MACI), a pioneering program in Chile that combines training in data science, innovation and entrepreneurship to transform the reality of public and private organizations. The challenge of leading this initiative falls on José Fuentes Sepúlvedaresearcher at the Millennium Institute Foundational Research on Data (IMFD) and academic of the Faculty of Engineering of the UdeC.

Fuentes, a civil computer engineer and PhD in Computer Science from the same university, took over the direction of MACI in 2023, with the objective of consolidating and projecting the work initiated by his predecessor, Guillermo Cabrera-Vives. "The main challenge in taking the directorship was to maintain the course charted by the founding team. Today, more than ever, the challenge is to create a data-driven innovation environment that generates a snowball effect in institutions and companies," he says.

Data science and innovation: two inseparable pillars

The MACI, which began in 2021, is distinguished by integrating equal parts data science and innovation management subjects, plus a transversal component of leadership and entrepreneurship. This approach seeks to ensure that students not only acquire technical skills, but also the ability to detect improvements and transform them into high-impact projects.

"MACI has two souls that coexist: data science and innovation. It is not only about analyzing data and obtaining relevant information, but also about using it to propose concrete solutions to real problems in local, regional and national companies," emphasizes Dr. Fuentes.

The program is taught in blended mode, with online classes on Fridays and Saturdays, and regular on-site sessions at the Universidad de Concepción campus. Over the course of six trimesters, students address areas such as data analytics, technological architecture, business intelligence, prototyping and cybersecurity, in addition to participating in applied projects and an international internship.

Academia, business and society

The MACI is part of a broader ecosystem driven by the UdeC through the Center for Data and Artificial Intelligence (CDIA), which connects researchers with companies and public organizations to raise requirements and develop high impact projects.

"From the University we are generating a virtuous circle: on the one hand, training programs such as the MACI, the new Master in Artificial Intelligence and the PhD in AI; on the other, the CDIA as an articulator of applied projects. The goal is to improve the technological level of the region and the country, positioning Concepción as a pole in data science and innovation", explains the program director.

Open call 2026

The Master in Data Science for Innovation is aimed at professionals and entrepreneurs from various disciplines who seek to lead digital transformation processes in their institutions. The application requires a university degree, resume, statement of purpose and two letters of recommendation, in addition to an admission exam.

Classes will begin in March 2026, with a total duration of two years (72 SCT credits). Applications are now open on the official website Master studentMaster student.

"The future lies in those who know how to transform data into real innovation. That is the heart of MACI," concludes Fuentes.

For more information, interested parties can visit the program's official website at Master student andMaster studentMaster student