On Monday, January 12, our campus celebrated a major milestone in the Hall of Honor: the awarding of Phase 2 of the Frontier Line (FIU) University R&D&I Funding Program. Sponsored by the Ministry of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation, this achievement paves the way for the “Usach Futuro 2050” Frontier Plan, a roadmap designed to drive the University’s research excellence over the next decade.
Under the banner “We Are Frontier Research,” the event gathered officials, researchers, and government representatives to mark a new institutional era in science and innovation. Usach is one of only four universities nationwide—selected from 14 applicants—to implement a Frontier Plan. This initiative is backed by $10.4 billion in structural public funding, contributing to a total investment of nearly $40 billion over the next 10 years.
The ceremony featured remarks from several key leaders, including Cristian Cuevas Vega, Undersecretary of Science, Technology, Knowledge, and Innovation; Dr. Cristián Muñoz Canales, Acting Rector of the University of Santiago; Dr. Pablo Donoso García, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation; and Rodrigo Morgado, Director of Technology Management. The event concluded with an awards presentation recognizing the academic and professional teams who led the project's development.
A Shared Vision for National Progress
In his remarks, Acting Rector Dr. Cristián Muñoz emphasized that the University of Santiago “has historically been an institution that defines its work by its impact on society. We contribute to Chile’s development through industry, applied science, the cultivation of elite talent, and a deep commitment to public policy and social responsibility. Today, with this new momentum, we are taking a firm step toward the future—a future where our research not only addresses current challenges but anticipates the questions of tomorrow.”
“Usach embodies the future of science, technology, innovation, and critical thought,” Dr. Muñoz stated. “It is the future because we are not afraid to imagine and build what is to come. And it is the future because we do not build it alone; we do so alongside our community, through tripartite collaboration, and in deep connection with our territories.”
The “Usach Futuro 2050: Cutting-Edge Knowledge for a Smart, Sustainable, and Healthy Society” initiative is the product of an intensive, participatory process led by the Vice-Rector's Office for Research, Innovation, and Creation (Vriic). Between 2024 and 2025, this effort engaged over 160 researchers across the University’s nine faculties. During the diagnostic phase, the team identified critical gaps in institutional R&D&I capabilities, proposed strategic development areas, and designed a portfolio of nine interdisciplinary, high-impact research projects.
“Today marks a historic milestone for our University. This funding is not an endpoint, but a launchpad for a decade-long transformational process,” emphasized Dr. Pablo Donoso, Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation. “It invites us to elevate our research to new heights of excellence and innovation.”
Dr. Donoso further noted that the Frontier Plan is an institutional project with a profound purpose: “It embodies our university’s mission, our public service mandate, and our commitment to solving the challenges Chile will face by 2050.”
Undersecretary Cristian Cuevas highlighted the initiative’s importance, noting that the award recognizes Usach’s "long history and deep commitment to the country's development." He stated, “This outcome is a reflection of the academic community’s hard work and a clear vision for the University’s role in Chile’s future.”
Cuevas added that the FIU serves as a strategic pillar for the nation: “It is more than just funding—it is a public policy aimed at strengthening university research through a long-term, interdisciplinary, and regionally focused lens.”
Creating Impact at Home and Abroad
During the event, Rodrigo Morgado, Director of Technology Management, outlined the scope of the Usach Futuro 2050 Plan, noting that it is structured around three major strategic areas of excellence: Healthy Society, focusing on sustainable agri-food systems, health, and well-being; Competitive and Sustainable Society, centered on energy and productive transition; and Smart and Resilient Society, focused on social transformations and emerging technologies. Each of these areas brings together interdisciplinary initiatives that gave rise to a portfolio of nine Strategic Frontier R&D&I Projects, which were rigorously evaluated by international peers and validated by the University’s Steering Committee.
“Within these strategic areas, projects with national and international impact will be developed, supported by a robust institutional governance framework, a dedicated agenda for scientific infrastructure and equipment, and initiatives for advanced human capital development,” said Rodrigo Morgado. He also emphasized that these efforts are amplified by strategic communication and outreach with the public and private sectors, ensuring that the University's research directly addresses the challenges of the future.
Honoring Our Community
During the ceremony, special recognition was given to the nine lead researchers of the FIU portfolio’s strategic lines: Óscar Rojas, Claudio Martínez, Jaime Pizarro, Francisco Melo, Sebastián Pérez, Mauricio Marín, Patricio Valdivia, María José Galotto, and Ricardo Vega. Their leadership is central to the University's mission of driving Frontier Research and innovation.
Additional honors were presented to the former Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Creation, Dr. Alberto Monsalve, for his pivotal role in formulating the proposal. Recognition also extended to the project management team, whose cross-departmental collaboration was essential to the award: Maritza Páez Collio (Director of Dicyt), Leonidas Ibarra Vásquez (Director of Dinem), Rodrigo Morgado Contardo (Director of DGT), Rodrigo Orellana González (Head of Data, Statistics, and Systems at Vriic), Pablo Mora Albornoz (Head of Communications and Marketing at Vriic), Paula Castillo Volenski (Innovation Manager at Dinem), Diego San Martín Kemp (Innovation Coordinator at Dinem), and Pamela Troncoso Vergara (Head of the Project Coordination Department at Vriic).
“This award is not a matter of chance, but rather the result of clear strategic leadership, a shared institutional vision, and the ability to bring together commitment, talent, and experience around a common goal for the University of Santiago de Chile,” stated Dr. Alberto Monsalve.