The Industrial University of Santander (UIS) participated in CienTiOn, a UNIRED event held at Universidad Santo Tomás in Floridablanca. During the gathering, UIS Vice-Rector for Research and Extension Cristian Blanco Tirado discussed the challenges and opportunities shaping the department’s development toward 2050.
Research and innovation play a key role in building a better future for the region. With this in mind, young researchers from the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) participated in CienTiOn, “Research that Connects, Innovates, and Transforms the Greater Santander Region.”
The event brings together students from research groups at higher education institutions affiliated with UNIRED to share their projects, exchange experiences, and explore how research can contribute to regional development.
As part of the event’s agenda, the Santander 2050 vision took center stage. Cristian Blanco Tirado, UIS Vice-Rector for Research and Extension, attended the gathering and spoke with students about the importance of aligning their research with the department’s current and future challenges.
“We met with students who are part of the CienTiOn group today. It is a group of student research groups from different universities affiliated with UNIRED. The idea behind today’s presentation was to explain how strategic foresight plans are developed, share our vision for the Department of Santander in 2050, and emphasize how everyone must get involved in this process,” Blanco Tirado explained.
Furthermore, the vice-rector encouraged students to consider how knowledge can help build a more prosperous department, where residents have opportunities to pursue their life goals and find reasons to remain in Santander or return in the future.
“The invitation to everyone is precisely to think about how we can generate development in the Department of Santander between now and 2050. The goal is to have a more prosperous department, where people feel a sense of belonging and want not to leave our department, but to return to Santander to pursue their life goals,” he said.
Collaborative Research for Regional Development
In addition to presenting their projects, CienTiOn seeks to strengthen connections among young researchers from participating universities and create new opportunities for academic collaboration. In this regard, Luz Marina Ballesteros, Director of Research and Extension at the UIS Faculty of Physical-Mechanical Engineering, highlighted the importance of these spaces in showcasing the work carried out by student research groups.
“UNIRED’s most important motto is that together we can achieve more. That is precisely the purpose of this event: for students from our university to interact with their peers from other institutions so that, together, we can conduct research that further strengthens the region,” she said.
Similarly, Ballesteros connected the event’s objectives with the department’s long-term development. She emphasized that research currently conducted at universities can help shape the Santander envisioned for 2050.
One example of this research potential is the project presented by Juan Sebastián Vesga Figueroa, a Geology student at UIS. His work focuses on offshore hydrocarbon exploration using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, seeking to expand the possibilities for analyzing marine areas with potential hydrocarbon resources.
“The project we are presenting is based on offshore hydrocarbon exploration using SAR imagery,” Vesga Figueroa explained. Beyond its technical contribution, he also emphasized that participating in research during university studies allows students to explore new career paths, develop skills, and apply their knowledge to future professional opportunities.
Young Researchers Contributing to the Santander 2050 Vision
Looking toward the future, the participation of student research groups in CienTiOn reflects the goal of connecting university research with regional development objectives. Viviana Alexandra López Acevedo, Executive Director of UNIRED, explained that this year’s event focuses on young researchers’ findings and their potential contribution to the Santander 2050 vision.
“They will be the ones living the department’s future, and we want to encourage them to ensure that each of their research projects and studies contributes to achieving the nine missions of the Santander 2050 vision, so that we can build the Santander we all dream of,” she said.
Ultimately, CienTiOn provides a meeting point for research groups from UNIRED member universities, combining project presentations with knowledge exchange and discussions about the region’s challenges. Through this participation, UIS highlights the importance of engaging young researchers in collaborative research and in building a shared vision for the future of the Greater Santander region.
