Uplift

Uplifting was a process where an advanced species modified another one so it achieved sentience.

Rutan biotechnology was sufficiently advanced to do uplifting. By the 26th century, they had done so at least once, on the planet Sentarion, where they were worshipped by the insectoid Sentarii as "the Shining Ones". (PROSE: Shakedown)

Behind the scenes
Uplifting is a central concept of 's series. , the first novel in the series, was published in 1980, fifteen years before Shakedown.