Emphasizing its consolidation as a strategic actor integrated with the social environment—both public and private—following a period marked by the strengthening of frontier research and the institutionalization of artistic creation as a fundamental academic pillar, the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaiso (PUCV) held the 4th VINCI Meeting.
This event, organized by the Office of the Vice Rector for Research, Creation, and Innovation (VINCI), brings together faculty members to strengthen interaction, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas, with the aim of continuing to enhance partnerships, innovation, and the implementation of projects that have an impact on the community.
PUCV’s Acting Rector, Claudia Mejías, highlighted that “the excellent results achieved are the product of systematic work and strategic planning aimed at addressing real-world problems through applied research, innovation, and technology transfer, in collaboration with the productive sector and with a tangible impact on society.”
Luis Mercado, Vice Rector for Research, Creation, and Innovation (VINCI), emphasized that in recent years PUCV has steadily strengthened its research, creation, and innovation activities, consolidating its strategic position both regionally and nationally. This transformative momentum has enabled knowledge transfer and energized science-based entrepreneurship, reaching levels of excellence and productivity that place the University at the forefront nationwide.
“During this 2026 meeting, we focused on the main achievements of 2025, including the awarding of major institutional projects such as the Supercomputing and Artificial Intelligence Center, the Startup Lab project, and the Clean Technologies Institute (ITL). We also highlighted as significant the agreement signed with SQM and, most notably, the awarding of the FIU Frontera project,” Mercado stated.
Looking ahead to the next cycle, the University plans to further strengthen the techno-creative industry and deepen the connection between knowledge generation and undergraduate and graduate education, supported by large-scale institutional initiatives dedicated to supercomputing, artificial intelligence, and clean technologies.
Milestones
During the 2022–2026 period, the University achieved key milestones that consolidated its position in research, creation, and innovation. These include the strengthening of frontier research and structural funding through the awarding of the FIU Frontera Fund; a historic record in scientific productivity with more than one thousand publications; success in securing and executing new projects representing revenues exceeding 25 billion Chilean pesos; and the consolidation of creation as a formal academic dimension, enhancing the visibility of the University’s artistic production.
The Regional Ministerial Secretary (Seremi) of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation for the Central Macrozone, Rodrigo González, thanked the University for the invitation to participate in this fourth meeting and noted that “today, PUCV, through its research, innovation, and creation lines, plays a fundamental role in the Valparaíso region and in Chile, transferring technologies and delivering science—both basic and applied—to address the problems and challenges facing our country.”
Science, Health, and Well-Being
On this occasion, special attention was given to the project “FIU Frontera PUCV: Science, Health, and Well-Being,” which integrates the Institution’s capacities in biomedicine, biotechnology, advanced research, human capital development, innovation, and knowledge transfer to address critical national challenges in health and well-being, with a people-centered and territorially relevant approach.
Claudia Altamirano, faculty member of the PUCV School of Biochemistry and director of the project, emphasized that “this initiative will strengthen and consolidate the University’s research, development, innovation, and translation efforts in the area of health and well- being, directly impacting the region’s clinical and hospital ecosystem and individuals with complex diagnostic and analytical needs.”
She concluded by stressing that the FIU Frontera PUCV project provides the region with an advanced diagnostic platform for timely detection and appropriate treatment, while also promoting frontier research.
By Erika Schubert
Department of Strategic Communications
