Four research projects for more than 33,000 million pesos, in which the University of Cauca participates, were approved in session No. 70 of the Collegiate Body for Administration and Decision, OCAD of the Science, Technology and Innovation Fund, FCTeI, of the General System of Royalties.

 

During the 70th session of the OCAD Collegiate Administration and Decision Body, which took place on December 31, 2019, 37 research projects worth $ 259,051 million were approved, of which two will be executed directly by the Universidad del Cauca: 'Strengthening of the coconut production chain of the Pacific Coast of Cauca, Stage I: Feasibility study of strategies for adding value to the coconut of the Pacific Coast of Cauca' and 'Formation of a Technological Development Center for the Innovation of Road Infrastructure in the Department of Cauca '.

  

Likewise, two projects were approved where the Alma Mater de los Caucanos participates in an alliance with national organizations and institutions: 'Development of new technological recommendations to contribute to the competitiveness and sustainability of the quinuero sector of the department of Cauca in cooperation with the Colombian Corporation of Agricultural Research AGROSAVIA and 'Training of high-level human capital in clinical specialties for research, technological development and innovation in health in the department of Cauca' where the executor is the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation supported in the formulation for Cauca by the University.

 

In this way, the project 'Strengthening the coconut production chain of the Pacific Coast of Cauca, Stage I: Feasibility study of strategies for adding value to the coconut of the Pacific Coast of Cauca' with an amount of 5.800 million pesos, intends to increase social appropriation capacities for adding value to the coconut chain, through the implementation of dialogue and knowledge exchange strategies for the valuation of products based on it. The beneficiaries of the research will be three municipalities in the department of Cauca: López de Micay, Timbiquí and Guapi.

 

“What the university seeks through the TULL research group is to provide denomination of origin to ancestral products such as cocadas and nougat. In the same way we want to give added value to coconut water, which is a product that has high mineral components that can be energetic, so with the project we want to give greater durability by packing and working through technologies. Likewise, we want to use hard shell and coconut fiber products to work agglomerates,”explained Héctor Samuel Villada Castillo, Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Cauca.

 

The University Director added that these initiatives seek to integrate as a community the organizations around to rescue traditional products with coconut and, from these, the technology is adopted to impact in other municipalities of the department of Cauca and at the national level.

  

 In the same vein, the project 'Conformation of a Technological Development Center for the Innovation of Road Infrastructure in the Department of Cauca' worth $ 9.295 million, aims to create a Center for Technological Development of Road that facilitates the conditions to strengthen regional socio-economic dynamics, in order to reduce connectivity gaps in different regions of the country, in addition to developing technological alternatives for road improvement, which allow for infrastructure compatible with the needs of environmental, social and economic diversity.

 

“For the University of Cauca it means a consolidation of great achievements in the year in terms of resources managed before the SGR. The creation of the CDT Vial is the first in Colombia of that nature and materializes the national and international experience and recognition that the Faculty of Civil Engineering has in the area of ​​land roads; besides that it frames a new era for the Faculty, in terms of management thanks to the strategic international relationship with KTH The Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (Switzerland),”said the project team.

 

He adds that in terms of direct benefits for the University, there will be specialized training processes for researchers and the provision of state-of-the-art equipment for the soil and pavement laboratories of the School of Civil Engineering.

 

On the other hand, the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences with the Agricultural Engineering program cooperates together with the Colombian Corporation for Agricultural Research (AGROSAVIA) in the third project 'Development of new technological recommendations to contribute to the competitiveness and sustainability of the quinuero sector of the department of Cauca ', with an amount of $ 8.077 million, which seeks to support good agricultural practices and collaborate in what has to do with the management of quinoa varieties and their adaptability to the regions of the department so that they do not have difficulties with climate change .

  

 In turn, the project "Formation of high-level human capital in clinical specialties for research, technological development and innovation in health in the department of Cauca ', with a value of $ 10,822 million, executed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and supported by the University of Cauca, aspires to train medical personnel in surgical areas in order to reduce the failure of these professionals and contribute to the health and well-being of the Cauca’s population.

  

 The Vice Chancellor for Research, Héctor Samuel Villada Castillo explained that the call wants to finance quotas for people trained in the area of ​​health, especially doctors who reside and work in Cauca. The idea is that doctors specialize in both the University of Cauca and the University of Valle, in order to support the department, as it is a fault that exists in different medical specializations.

  

“2020 for University of Cauca in the research field will be important and positive, since five initiatives are already pre-selected. Again, projects will continue to be presented through the different calls offered by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to access royalty resources that strengthen communities and the region,”concluded the Vice Chancellor for Research.

 

More Info:

 

 Office of the Vice President for Research

 Telephone: 057 8209800 Ext. 2633

 Email: vri@unicauca.edu.co