Petroleum engineer Hugo Alejandro García, a graduate of the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), has been appointed general director of the Colombian Institute of Petroleum and Transition Energies (Icpet), Ecopetrol’s research and innovation center that leads the development of technologies for the energy industry and the country’s energy transition processes
His experience, technical expertise, and high-level academic training led petroleum engineer Hugo Alejandro García, a graduate of the Industrial University of Santander (UIS), to assume the role of general director of the Colombian Institute of Petroleum and Transition Energies (Icpet), one of the most important research and innovation centers in Colombia’s energy sector.
As of today, June 1, García is at the helm of the entity, which is affiliated with Ecopetrol, where research and technological solutions are developed for the hydrocarbons industry and new energy sources that are driving the country’s energy transition.
Hugo García takes over as director of ICPET
The new director has more than two decades of professional experience in the energy sector and has spent much of his career at the institute, where he has led strategic projects related to enhanced hydrocarbon recovery technologies and the development of innovative solutions for the industry.
His professional background combines his education at the UIS with doctoral studies at the University of Calgary, focused on energy efficiency—a field that is particularly relevant today given global challenges related to sustainability and emissions reduction.
Throughout his career, he has also served as a leader in strategic areas focused on developing technological solutions for the hydrocarbons sector, contributing to the strengthening of scientific and innovation capabilities within Icpet.
The appointment of this UIS graduate represents recognition of the talent nurtured in the classrooms of the Universidad Industrial de Santander and the ability of its professionals to assume leadership positions in organizations with national and international reach.
UIS and ICPET: A Partnership for Innovation
García highlighted the contribution of the Industrial University of Santander to scientific and technological progress in Colombia’s energy sector. “The UIS has historically supported Ecopetrol and the Colombian Institute of Petroleum and Transition Energies in research, technological development, and energy transition initiatives,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders in advancing solutions to the country’s energy challenges. “Coordination among the government, academia, and industry has made it possible to develop solutions that address the needs of the country and the energy sector,” he said.
In his new role, García is tasked with promoting initiatives related to clean energy, geothermal energy, hydrogen, and decarbonization processes, supported by a robust research ecosystem comprising hundreds of scientists and dozens of specialized laboratories.
His appointment as director of Icpet marks a new phase for the institution, at a time when innovation, sustainability, and technological development are essential for the transformation of Colombia’s energy sector.
