On December 5, 2024, the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation presented the National Data Centers Plan following a public consultation process. This launch marks a key milestone in positioning Chile as the main digital hub in Latin America, driving the development of digital infrastructure and economy in the country.

The plan has three main objectives: (i) to foster the growth of the Data Center industry through actions that stimulate investment, clarify the regulatory framework, and provide certainty to investors, citizens, and academia; (ii) to promote a decentralized industry with low socio-environmental impact, based on renewable energies; and (iii) to strengthen national research and development capacities, with a forward-looking vision to enhance data technologies in Chile.

The plan aims to achieve its objectives through the following measures to be implemented by the Government, through the competent ministries and other public actors:

Digital Tool for the organic and balanced growth of the industry

Through its Geospatial Data Infrastructure (IDE Chile), the State will have a digital tool that integrates information on energy availability, suitable land use, connectivity, and socio-environmental variables across the country to identify strategic areas for developing Data Centers. This measure aims to facilitate short- and long-term planning, promoting orderly and sustainable industry growth, optimizing resource use, and minimizing environmental impact.

For 2025-2027, it is expected to generate semi-annual recommendations on industry expansion based on prioritized data, and for 2028-2030, to consolidate a national infrastructure that connects investment with regional capacities.

Guide to critical permits for Data Center construction

Publish a reference guide detailing the required permits and regulatory processes necessary for the construction and operation of Data Centers in Chile. This guide will be available in digital format, both in Spanish and English, and will be updated periodically. This measure aims to facilitate regulatory compliance and expedite investment in the country.

Between 2025 and 2027, the guide will be published and disseminated, and between 2028 and 2030, its scope will be expanded to specialized permits, maintaining constant updates in response to regulatory and technological changes.

Environmental project evaluation criteria

The objective is to publish a guide with standardized technical criteria to optimize the project evaluation process for Data Centers in the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). This measure aims to provide greater certainty to the industry and citizens about the current regulatory requirements, criteria, and demands, being continuously updated. Besides, training workshops and awareness sessions will be promoted to disseminate this knowledge among various public and private sector actors.

The guide is expected to be published between 2025 and 2027, while technical guidelines will be consolidated between 2028 and 2030. The guide will be used as a reference for the environmental evaluation of such projects, adapting to technological advances and new regulations.

Promotion of the Clean Production Agreement (APL) for climate change

The aim is to establish a voluntary agreement between the State and the Data Center industry to improve efficiency in the use of resources and reduce the environmental impact of these infrastructures. This agreement will aim to align with the objectives of the National Data Centers Plan and promote water and energy sustainability and the reduction of the sector's carbon footprint, encouraging the use of efficient technologies and creating joint opportunities between the State, industry, and communities to share best practices and protect the territory.

The APL will be implemented among the signatory companies between 2025 and 2027, and a sustainability and territorial relevance standard for the industry in Chile will be established between 2028 and 2030.

Promotion of State multi-cloud shared service

A State multi-cloud shared service will be created to strengthen the technological capabilities of the public sector, facilitating the acquisition, management, and security of cloud services necessary to meet digital government standards and the objectives of Law 21,180 on State Digital Transformation. This model will be led by a coordinating unit acting as a contractor and cloud service manager, offering technical support and ensuring operational resilience by hosting digital services in multiple clouds. The unit may be established as a public company or through public-private partnerships, with the Digital Government Secretariat acting as an intermediary between public bodies and the coordinating unit.

The multi-cloud model will be designed between 2025 and 2027, and it will be expanded to all State institutions between 2028 and 2030.

Development of strategic competencies for the industry

This aims to achieve the implementation of a comprehensive public-private approach to promote talent development and strengthen capacities in both industry and public institutions. This measure aims to articulate with universities and international actors to implement technical and professional training programs, ensuring that the developed competencies align with the current and future needs of the sector.

For 2025-2027, at least two training programs are expected to be in place, and for 2028-2030, the goal is to reduce the qualified personnel gap in the IT industry by at least 10%, according to the latest measurement date of the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE).

Installation of AI campuses

Planning and implementation of regional technological campuses specialized in infrastructure for AI training will be carried out. These campuses will be established in regions with high availability of renewable energies, solid connectivity, suitable land use, and access to human capital, and will be promoted by the State through strategies that facilitate private investment and the expansion of technological infrastructure.

Public-private investment agreements for the future installation of AI campuses will be consolidated between 2025 and 2027, prioritizing strategic regions, and between 2028 and 2030, at least one campus will be built in the defined regions.

AI Computing Capacity for R&D

As part of the installation of AI campuses, an agreement between the State and international companies operating in the country will be promoted to ensure access to advanced computing infrastructure for Chilean institutions dedicated to AI research and development, as well as for human capital training focused on industry needs. This will strengthen the country's technological capabilities and foster collaboration in AI projects.

At least one agreement for priority access to AI infrastructure for Chilean institutions will be consolidated between 2025 and 2027, and at least two joint projects with international companies and Chilean higher education institutions will be developed between 2028 and 2030.

Multi-Actor Committee for Plan Monitoring and Updating

Establishment of a committee that acts as the central information and strategic planning entity for the Data Center industry in Chile. This public-private committee will be led by the State and include local governments, Data Center industry actors, experts, and communities. Its objective will be to identify potential social and environmental impacts and investment opportunities and monitor compliance with the goals of the National Data Centers Policy.

A permanent monitoring space will be established between 2025 and 2027, and semi-annual progress reports will be published, proposing improvements to the plan between 2028 and 2030.