We are a leading scientific center in Latin America, carrying out frontier, multidisciplinary research into the fundamental problems of data. Our research spans 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 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 Science Initiative of Chile’s National Agency for Research and Development (ANID). Millennium Institutes are Chilean centers with legal autonomy that carry out scientific and technological research at the frontier of knowledge in their respective disciplines. Through these centers of excellence, of which the Millennium Institute Foundational Research on Data is one, the strengthening of high-level scientific and technological capabilities is promoted nationwide, along with the dissemination and transfer of knowledge to different sectors of society.

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

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

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

The institute’s internal work 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, together with 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 carry out, as well as on academic training, networks, and outreach, with the goal of developing the institute’s scientific potential in the best possible way.