Martín Illanes

Martín Illanes is a Chilean engineer, researcher, and designer working at the intersection of data science, public policy, and civic innovation. He holds an Industrial Civil Engineering degree and a master’s degree in Public Policy from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Based in Santiago, he describes his approach as building small, useful things and advancing civic projects in Chile.

Illanes leads initiatives focused on public-sector innovation, open civic data, and community life. These include the Santiago Innovation Company, the Chilean Intelligence and Data Company, and Círculo de Santiago. His projects and digital products include tools for exploring congressional votes, attendance, and legislative activity; public datasets; analysis of presidential speeches; independent data journalism; artificial intelligence tools; service monitoring; and document preparation and verification. He has also developed educational and creative projects, such as a sundial calculator and an isometric map of Santiago.

His research and professional work address public spending on citizen security, access to medicines and financial protection, and regional innovation systems.